Former star wide receiver Willie Ponder is in this week's Southeast Missouri Athletics Alumni Spotlight presented by SoutheastHEALTH.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ponder played two seasons at SEMO from 2001-02 and shattered numerous records during that time.

An Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Sports Network All-American, and a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, Ponder still holds four of SEMO's all-time single-season records, while ranking second among the program's career leaders in receiving yards (2,543), third in receiving touchdowns (26) and fourth in receptions (157). Ponder's record in career receiving yards stood for 17 years until Kristian Wilkerson (2015-19) surpassed that mark with 3,540 yards.

Following his outstanding SEMO career, Ponder was selected in the sixth round of the 2003 National Football League Draft by the New York Giants and contributed as a kick returner in 2004. He led the NFL with a kickoff return average of 26.9 yards that year. Ponder was then with Seattle in 2006 and St. Louis in 2007.
 
After his NFL career, Ponder returned to his hometown to teach and coach football at Tulsa Central High School. He worked in that capacity until deciding to go back to SEMO to finish his degree and serve as an assistant football coach when Tom Matukewicz took over as the Redhawks head coach in 2014.
 
Ponder had known Matukewicz since their days at Coffeyville Community College. He redshirted there in 2000 when Matukewicz was coaching the offensive line and tight ends. Ponder and Matukewicz always kept in touch and met again as coaches at SEMO.
 
As SEMO's offensive assistant coach working closely with the wide receivers, Ponder earned the 20 credit hours he needed to complete his degree in General Studies by December of 2014, and a year later, he returned to campus to be inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2015 class.
 
Once Ponder finished his degree and after one season on the Redhawks coaching staff, he went to Colorado Mesa University to coach the wide receivers from 2016-17. He also worked with the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship prior to the 2016 campaign.
 
Now, Ponder is back teaching and coaching football at home again, this time as head coach at McLain High School in Tulsa. He is in the third year of his current role as an English teacher and football coach.
 
"It's definitely a good feeling to have this opportunity," Ponder said when he was first hired on Apr. 25, 2018. "It's something I've wanted to do and it's where I wanted to be. I want to do something for this community. It's what brought me back here. I want to help the young men in this area realize they can use their God-given ability to make something of themselves."
 
Ponder realized his passion to teach and "help young men" in the face of adversity along a long journey when he was making something of himself.
 
He signed with the University of Tulsa out of high school, but played only one season with the Hurricane before he was dismissed from the team after being declared academically ineligible.
 
Ponder worked hard to get his grades back in order at Coffeyville Community College before arriving in Cape Girardeau for his spectacular SEMO career. It was that determination and grit that led Ponder to get drafted by the New York Giants and reach the pinnacle of his playing career. 
 
"Everything has come full circle for me and to be where I'm at today is more of a satisfaction for me," said Ponder. "Teaching and coaching is what I really wanted to do and I'm proud I accomplished that. I love to come to work every day to help kids and others."
 
When asked to reflect on his days at SEMO, Ponder concluded with this.
 
"SEMO changed my life. Those two years I was in Cape Girardeau as a student-athlete were priceless. When Coach Matukewicz gave me the opportunity to come back and finish my degree, that helped me grow even more. Then, to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame on top of that was really special. I will never forget my time in Cape Girardeau and all that SEMO did for me."