University of Colorado Quarterback Dies in Car Crash at Age 23

Dominiq Ponder, a 23-year-old quarterback for the University of Colorado football team, was killed in a single-vehicle accident early Sunday morning in Boulder County. Head coach Deion Sanders and teammates are mourning the loss of the Florida native, who was entering his third year with the program.

A University of Colorado football player lost his life early Sunday morning when his vehicle crashed in Boulder County, according to head coach Deion Sanders.

Dominiq Ponder, age 23, was operating a 2023 Tesla when the single-vehicle collision occurred around 3 a.m. Sunday, according to reports from DNVR Buffs and FOX 31.

Sanders took to social media platform X to share his grief over losing the young athlete.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Sanders wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”

Fellow quarterback Colton Allen, who shared the position room with Ponder, expressed his sorrow through an Instagram tribute.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote 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. What happened feels so final. It feels heavy. It hurts.”

The Opa Locka, Florida native was beginning his third season with the Buffaloes after taking a redshirt year at Bethune-Cookman in 2023 before making the move to Colorado. During the 2025 season, Ponder appeared in two contests as a backup, completing one passing attempt and rushing twice.

Ponder was expected to compete for a higher position on Colorado’s quarterback depth chart heading into 2026. The tragic accident occurred just one day before the team was set to begin spring practice sessions.