Tragedy as Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder dead at 23 with Deion Sanders leading tributes

The Colorado Buffaloes are mourning the death of their quarterback Dominiq Ponder at the age of 23.

According to reports in Colorado Ponder, a third-year sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, died in a single car accident. 

The head coach of the Buffaloes, the legendary NFL great Deion Sanders, led the tributes to Ponder with an emotional statement posted on Sunday evening.

‘God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,’ Sanders wrote. ‘Dom was one of my favorites! 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 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.’

Ponder was a backup quarterback at the school who made two brief appearances for the team in the 2025 season. He transferred from Bethune-Cookman in 2024.

His fellow signal caller Colton Allen also paid an emotional tribute to his teammate on Instagram on Sunday.

‘I don’t even know how to put this into words,’ Allen wrote. ‘We spend so much time stressing about stuff that feels huge in the moment but honestly doesn’t matter. Life. Money. Opinions. 

‘None of that feels important right now. Life is such a blessing from God, but it’s also so short and fragile. You don’t really understand that until something like this happens.

‘Dom, you were a blessing to so many people. You had a presence about you that just made everything better. 

‘You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.’

Colorado had been scheduled to begin spring practice on Monday. The school has been contacted for comment by Daily Mail about Ponder’s passing.

Ponder had played high school football at Carol City and Naples in Florida. He went to Bethune-Cookman from Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy in South Carolina. 

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