University of Colorado Mourns Quarterback Dominiq Ponder

Friends, family gather to remember 23-year-old Buffs player killed in car crash

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The University of Colorado community came together to honor the life of former quarterback Dominiq Ponder, who died last weekend in a single-vehicle car crash at the age of 23. Ponder's friends, family, and teammates gathered at a memorial service on the CU Boulder campus to share memories and celebrate his legacy as a joyful, caring person who was beloved by all who knew him.

Why it matters

Ponder's death is a tragic loss for the CU football program and the broader university community. As a young athlete with a bright future, his passing has deeply impacted those who knew and cared for him. The memorial service provided an opportunity for the community to come together, grieve, and remember the positive impact Ponder had during his time at Colorado.

The details

Ponder was a quarterback for the Buffaloes football team. He was killed earlier this week in a single-vehicle crash in Boulder County. On Saturday, friends and family gathered at the Glen Miller Ballroom on the CU Boulder campus to remember his life and legacy. Head Coach Deion Sanders described Ponder as "Always smiling. Always happy. Always loving, caring." Ponder's family, who traveled from Florida, shared that he was a joyful person who would want the community to celebrate him and not be sad forever.

  • Dominiq Ponder died last weekend in a car crash.
  • A memorial service was held for Ponder on Saturday, March 9, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado.

The players

Dominiq Ponder

A 23-year-old quarterback for the University of Colorado Buffaloes football team who died in a car crash.

Deion Sanders

The head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes football team.

Wendell Ponder

The father of Dominiq Ponder.

Monroe Ponder

The sister of Dominiq Ponder.

Carl Oris

The brother of Dominiq Ponder.

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What they’re saying

“When you think of Dom, you think of love.”

— Wendell Ponder, Father of Dominiq Ponder (cbsnews.com)

“He laughed at everything, he made jokes about everything. And if he was comfortable with you, you definitely saw his weird side.”

— Monroe Ponder, Sister of Dominiq Ponder (cbsnews.com)

“Seeing how many people cared about Dominiq truly means more than words can express.”

— Carl Oris, Brother of Dominiq Ponder (cbsnews.com)

“If there's one thing that I know for sure, it's that he would not want us sitting around being sad forever. He would want us to celebrate him, to laugh, to tell his jokes, to go outside, to live big.”

— Monroe Ponder, Sister of Dominiq Ponder (cbsnews.com)

“Dom is with all of you, forever. Amen.”

— Wendell Ponder, Father of Dominiq Ponder (cbsnews.com)

The takeaway

The memorial service for Dominiq Ponder highlighted the profound impact he had on those around him, with his family and teammates remembering him as a joyful, caring person who brought laughter and positivity to all who knew him. Even in his tragic passing, Ponder's legacy will live on through the CU community he was so deeply connected to.