On March 1, the football world received the devastating news that Colorado Athletics backup quarterback Dominiq Ponder passed away at 23 in a single-vehicle accident in Boulder County, Colorado. Anytime you lose someone, it’s incredibly hard, but to lose someone at such a young age is just heartbreaking.

Since Ponder’s death, Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders and the rest of the Buffalo community have rallied to support his family. Speaking exclusively to EssentiallySports, his mother, Catrina Hughes, shared how Sanders and the university stood by her family.

“We couldn’t have gotten this far without the love and support of the university, Coach Prime, and the community,” said Hughes. “Our boy was a blessing to many and truly loved. My sister-in-law just said to us, ‘It’s not the quantity of life, but the quality of it,’ and Dom really had the best 23 years, and we’re forever grateful to God for allowing us to have him.”

It’s been a little over a week since Dominiq Ponder’s death, and his mother, Catrina Hughes, has set up a GoFundMe to help support his family and cover funeral costs. So far, they have raised over $15,000, including a $1,000 contribution from Florida Gators defensive back and lifelong friend Devin Moore. If you want to become a part of that drive, you can do so here. Their goal is to raise $100,000.

Losing someone is always a tragedy, but for Catrina and the rest of the family, what matters more now is to celebrate the life he lived.

How Dominiq Ponder’s Mother Wants People to Remember Him

Ponder was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and started his college career at Bethune-Cookman. He redshirted his freshman year and entered the transfer portal, eventually committing to Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders. He did not play in 2024 and appeared in two games in 2025 as a backup quarterback.

But his impact on the field paled in comparison to the impact he made off the field. His personality was infectious. Dominiq’s mother said he could bring everyone together through laughter, but he was also a very determined individual who would do anything to achieve his goals. And most importantly, he was a family man.

“We want people to remember him for how he brought people together through laughter,” Ponder’s mother told EssentiallySports. “For his great will, drive, and determination to achieve his goals. But most of all, how he fiercely loved his family and friends.”

Dominiq Ponder’s passing hit the football community as a whole incredibly hard. Across the football community—whether you are a Colorado supporter or you support one of their rivals—there’s no denying that we lost this young man far too soon.

If you’re able, please go and share your support through the GoFundMe platform. Even if you can’t, please keep Dominiq Ponder’s family in your thoughts as they continue to grieve his loss.