Dominiq Ponder’s mother, Catrina Hughes, gave a heartbreaking update in a statement about her late son, a former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback who died in a fiery car crash in March.
“What matters most to me is who Dominiq was as a person,” Hughes said in a statement.
“He was a determined student-athlete, a leader, and someone with a huge heart who fiercely loved his family, his teammates, and the game of football.”
Hughes said she will be promoting good decision-making among young adults in her son’s memory, as the Boulder County Coroner revealed in a report that he had a blood alcohol level two times the legal limit at the time of the accident.
“If anything good can come from this loss, it’s the conversations it can start about responsible decision-making, supporting young adults, and making good choices even in ordinary moments,” she said.
Ponder, who died at the age of 23, played for Bethune-Cookman University in 2023 and transferred to Colorado, attempting just one pass in 2025.
His cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries from the accident.
“One bad decision can alter everything. Odds are that 95% of the population has made the same decision, but got lucky, and most would never admit to it,” Hughes continued in her statement.
View this post on Instagram “A big part of his legacy will be to encourage young people to please make responsible choices and if possible to have the courage to step in for their friends when one of them isn’t thinking clearly for themselves.
“Kids need to know that it’s ok to intervene, do anything you can do, one small decision can save a life. Don’t be afraid, even if it’s uncomfortable. A difficult conversation is easier than a lifetime of loss.”
Ponder was a three-star recruit out of Miami in 2022 as a 6-foot-4 pro-style quarterback.
“My hope is always that he is remembered for his character, his perseverance, and the way he showed up for others, not just the worst day of our lives,” she wrote.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders responded to the loss of his backup quarterback.
“Dom was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader,” Sanders wrote on X. “Lord, you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us, Lord, Comfort us. Let’s pray for all that knew him.”
