About

Dominiq Ponder is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound quarterback for the University of Colorado Boulder. Listed on the 2025 roster as a red-shirt freshman, the South Florida native wears No. 22 and is part of the deep quarterback room assembled by head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. Ponder was born on December 2, 2002, in Opa Locka, Florida, and arrived in Boulder after an early stop at Bethune-Cookman University.

Although he has yet to start a game for the Buffaloes, the lanky signal-caller is valued for a live arm, quick feet, and steady attitude in practice. Colorado’s staff lists him as “active” and ready to compete behind established starter Shedeur Sanders. With four full seasons of eligibility remaining, Ponder represents a developmental project who could push for snaps as Coach Prime’s rebuild of Colorado football continues.

Bios

Position:	Quarterback
Weight:	200
Hometown:	Opa Locka, Fla.
Prev School:	Bethune Cookman
Height:	6-5
Class:	Sophomore
High School:	Carol City
TJ Branch Net Worth	$500 Thousand

Before Fame

Growing up in greater Miami, Ponder split his early years between Naples High School and Miami Carol City Senior High, programs known for turning out college talent. As a sophomore at Naples, he passed for 511 yards and 10 touchdowns and also contributed 356 rushing yards and three scores, the earliest indication of the dual-threat approach he continues to prefer.

In need of more exposure, he spent a postgraduate semester at South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy, then joined mid-year at Bethune-Cookman. Recruiters labeled him a three-star recruit and the No. 164 quarterback in the country, and FIU, Liberty, and Southern Miss offered him a scholarship before he selected the Wildcats.

Contemplated red-shirted at Daytona Beach and witnessed little late-season work in 2023 (33 passing yards on two appearances), but the experience strengthened his classroom discipline and film study ability. After the semester, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, eyeing a place where he could learn in a Power Five environment; Colorado’s renewed energy under Sanders proved a perfect fit.

Trivia

• Blazing test numbers: A Hudl profile lists Ponder with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, 285-pound bench press, and 375-pound squat—rare athletic markers for a player his height.
• First college throws: All 33 of his collegiate passing yards came against Florida A&M in the 2023 Florida Classic; he still jokes that the 29-yard completion felt “like a punt turned laser.”
• Major matter: Away from the field, he is pursuing a degree in criminology, motivated by an interest in forensic technology.
• Portal veteran: By age 21, he had already moved through two programs and one portal cycle, giving younger teammates informal advice on handling transfers without burning bridges.

Family Life

Public details are limited, but roster bios confirm Ponder’s Florida roots and note a tight-knit family that encouraged both academics and athletics. He often credits relatives for driving him to weekend seven-on-seven tournaments across the state and reminds younger cousins to “keep the grades higher than the stats.”

Although parents’ or siblings’ names don’t appear on Colorado’s or Bethune-Cookman’s rosters, Ponder’s social media posts often thank “Momma and the entire tribe back home” following accomplishments such as his first Boulder practice or end-of-term honor roll. The quarterback indicates family calls are a weekly tradition that maintains his perspective amidst the chaos of name-brand college football.

Associated With

Ponder works daily under head coach Deion Sanders and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, soaking up tips from a staff that now includes Hall-of-Fame Marshall Faulk. Sharing the quarterback room with star passer Shedeur Sanders, veteran Ryan Staub, and 2025 five-star commit Julian Lewis has sharpened his competitive streak; the group regularly trades notes on coverage reads after meetings.

On the field, he has practiced against two-way sensation Travis Hunter and Big 12 defensive-player-of-the-year candidate Jordan Seaton, experiences he calls “the fastest tutorial in college football.” As Colorado pushes for its first Big 12 title since rejoining the league, coaches say Ponder’s scout-team reps are essential preparation for Saturdays in Folsom Field.