Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder Dies at 23, Deion Sanders Announces

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders announced Sunday that quarterback Dominiq Ponder has died at the age of 23.

The Colorado State Patrol said in a statement, via ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, that Ponder was involved in a one-car crash:

"Dom, you were a blessing to so many people," quarterback Colton Allen wrote in a post on Instagram. "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. ... I love you, brother. Thank you for everything. Until we meet again."

Ponder came to Colorado ahead of the 2024 as a transfer from Bethune-Cookman. He didn't see game time that season but appeared in two games in 2025, attempting one pass. He was expected to serve as one of the backups for Julian Lewis in the 2026 campaign.