« Football 2010

Christian Ponder

School
Florida State University
Position
Quarterback
Major
Sport Administration

Classroom

Christian Ponder is wearing out Florida State’s course book. He graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree after 2 1/2 years and then earned his MBA in spring 2010. He’s currently pursuing a second postgraduate degree in Sport Administration and is believed to be the only current Division I football player with an MBA in hand. Ponder, who maintains a 3.7 GPA, is a four-time Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll member, a two-time ACC All-Academic football honoree and he has published research on the economic effect of recession on families.

Character

A team captain in 2009 and 2010, Ponder is the leader of Florida State’s Unity Council and a member of the Seminoles’ Burning Spear Leadership Organization. Ponder has also been the keynote speaker at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) prayer breakfast and was a 2009 finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Community

Ponder leads all FSU student-athletes in community-service hours performed and is a nominee for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. He has served his community through several programs, including Children’s Home Society, Tobacco-Free Florida, United Way Day of Action (Meals on Wheels), Dick Howser Center for Childhood Services, Haiti Earthquake Relief, Children’s Miracle Network, Mayor’s Reading Initiative, Stomp Out Type-2 Diabetes, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Tallahassee Boy’s Town and the Tallahassee Miracle League. Ponder has also mentored through Leon County schools and received the ACC’s Top Six for Service Award.

Competition

In 2009 Ponder ranked among the nation’s top quarterbacks in most statistical categories, including leading the ACC with 321.8 total offense yards per game, before suffering a season-ending injury in the ninth game of the season. Still, he showed enough to earn ACC Preseason Player of the Year and consensus All-ACC preseason quarterback honors. Despite missing the final three regular-season games, Ponder still earned semifinalist honors for the Maxwell and Manning awards.