The heartbroken parents of Dominiq Ponder, the late Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, have broken their silence in an emotional first interview since their son's untimely death. Catrina and Wendell Ponder opened up about their profound grief, their son's remarkable legacy, and the crucial support provided by head coach Deion Sanders during their darkest days.
A Family Shattered by Sudden Loss
"We are broken," Wendell Ponder confessed to the Daily Mail. "We are doing the best we can. But we are so proud of him. We just cannot believe the love we have received. Thousands of text messages and phone calls have poured in." Catrina added, "Just shock. It's truly unbelievable. This was going to be his year."
Dominiq Ponder, aged 23, tragically died in the early hours of Sunday morning in Boulder, Colorado. The promising athlete lost control of his Tesla vehicle, crashed into an electrical line, and rolled down an embankment in a single-car accident that cut short a life filled with potential.
The Transformative Influence of Coach Prime
The Ponders revealed that their son had undergone a remarkable transformation during his two years playing under Coach Deion Sanders, the legendary two-time Super Bowl winner who also played Major League Baseball simultaneously with his football career.
"He spent more time with our son than we did over the last two years," Catrina revealed, with Wendell adding, "He loved Coach Prime more than anything. And the last few days, without him, we couldn't have made it at all. Coach Prime is one of the greatest men on this planet, and I am honored that my son played for him."
Wendell described Sanders' comforting presence: "I can't explain it. His voice is so soothing. I'm in shock, and I see him pop up on my phone because he calls on FaceTime, and just to see him, it calms me down. Coach was his father, just like I am. There just couldn't have been a greater person that I would have wanted in my son's life."
From Boy to Man: Dominiq's Colorado Journey
Ponder had served as a backup quarterback for the Buffaloes, where he spent the past two seasons developing both physically and mentally. He had fallen deeply in love with life in Boulder, telling his parents it would be his permanent home regardless of his football future.
"Said he was never going to leave," Wendell explained. "He said, 'If I make it to the NFL, great, it's my passion, but if not, I am going to coach here and I am going to live here.'"
The last time his parents saw Dominiq was during his Christmas visit to their Miami home. "That's one of the happiest memories I have," Catrina remembered. "He was here for Christmas and New Year's, and it was the best time, the happiest. He was so motivated. It was unreal, the maturity. He went from a boy to a man."
Physical and Mental Transformation
Wendell detailed his son's physical development: "He was like 189 pounds when we dropped him off in Boulder, and the last time we saw him, he was like 220. Just big, 6ft 5, all muscles and full of love and happy."
"But we could see how much he had grown mentally," Wendell continued. "Changing and turning into a man, and as a father, that is what you want. I was most proud of the man he was becoming. The growth in the last two years was unbelievable, night and day. And that all has to do with Coach Prime."
A Legacy of Generosity and Family Values
Long before arriving in Colorado, Dominiq Ponder had already established himself as an exceptional young man. He began playing football at age five, despite his father's initial preference for basketball. His generous spirit manifested early when his family adopted a friend he made through basketball.
"We moved to Florida, and he met a boy through basketball who had a bad life, and he made really good friends with him," Catrina said proudly. Wendell added, "We ended up adopting him. He's been with us since seventh grade. He's our son, and we wanted to save him. Dom knew he was going to have to share everything, and he didn't care."
Family Bonds and Sibling Love
Dominiq's 14-year-old sister, Monroe, has been coping with the devastating loss. "We have never had the conversation about death, really," Wendell said. "She loves him like nothing else. He was a big brother to her and more like a father; he played my role. She is doing okay. I am proud of her."
"She understands that God needed an angel, God needed him, and God had to take him," Wendell continued. "As hard as this is, she understands that he is with her in spirit, he is with all of us." Catrina added, "She is doing a lot better than I would have imagined. All she needs to do is look in the mirror. He is gonna be there. They loved each other so much. He loved his family, and we loved him."
Honoring a Fallen Teammate
The day after Ponder's death, his Colorado teammates proceeded with spring practice as a tribute to their fallen comrade, believing it was what he would have wanted. "It made me proud that his brothers are picking it up for him," Catrina said. "Everybody loved him. That child lived 10 lifetimes in his 23 years. He just had fun. He lived."
The Buffaloes will honor Ponder's memory during the 2026 season by wearing a special patch on their jerseys featuring his initials and his number 22. "We are so proud, honored, they wanted to do that," Wendell expressed. "Dom will always be there, a part of the University of Colorado. He will always be a Buff."
A Lasting Legacy of Love and Connection
Reflecting on what he hopes will be his son's enduring legacy, Wendell shared: "He loved his teammates, he loved people, and he would do anything for anyone. He saw the way Coach Prime operated, and he embraced that. He used the word 'charisma,' would say, 'Coach Prime is full of charisma, and I am going to be just like that.'"
"I hope his legacy is these kids can learn to get along and love each other and tell each other," Wendell continued. "Don't be scared to say 'I love you,' don't be scared to hug it out because Dom wasn't scared of those things. We are so proud of him. But we are sad. We miss our son."
The Ponder family has established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses as they navigate this unimaginable tragedy while celebrating the extraordinary life of their beloved son.
