Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder Killed In Car Crash

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died in a car crash on March 1. 

Colorado State Patrol said the crash happened around 3 a.m. Ponder lost control of his vehicle and hit a guardrail and an electrical pole. His car caught on fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His car was the only one involved in this accident. 

Ponder started his football career with Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bethune-Cookman is a Division I FCS school. Ponder did not play for them during his freshman season and transferred the next season. 

He transferred to Colorado during the 2024 offseason. He served as the backup QB for Shedeur Sanders, but did not play in a single game. 

In 2025, he found himself buried on the depth chart behind Kaidon Salter, Julian Lewis and Ryan Staub. Ponder made his college debut against Arizona and played in two games. He attempted one pass. 

Ponder’s coach, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders, praised his QB.

“Dom was one of my favorites,” Sanders said, “He was loved, respected & a born leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord, you’re receiving a good one.”

Although Colorado State Patrol has currently ruled Ponder’s death an accident after he lost control of the vehicle, they are still investigating his death further. They are trying to figure out what caused Ponder to lose control of his vehicle. 

Colorado will open its season on the road on Sept. 3 against Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech is generally considered the favorite, and they also have home-field advantage. Lewis is currently projected to be Colorado’s starting QB, with Salter serving as the backup. The transfer portal officially closed in January, leaving Colorado with few options to find more QB depth.