Talented wide receiver who was honorable mention all-America selection last season when he was a team captain ... led the OVC in receptions per game with 6.36, receiving yards per game with 99.09 and total receiving yards with 1,090 ... featured on
2001: Won all-OVC and honorable mention all-America honors as a wide receiver .... 70 catches for 1,090 yards and 11 TD's ... only the second receiver in Southeast history to have over 1,000 yards ... led the team in scoring with 66 points ... ranked 14th nationally in receptions per game, 13th in receiving yards per game, 39th in all purpose running and 76th in scoring with 6.0 points per game.
At Coffeyville: Redshirted.
At Tulsa: Had eight catches for 72 yards as a true freshman.
PREP: All-metro receiver and defensive back at Tulsa Central High School in Tulsa, Okla. ... selected as top defensive back in District 5A-3 as a senior ... caught 45 passes for 695 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior ... also returned three kickoffs and two punts for TD's.
PERSONAL: Born 2-14-80 ... son of Benella Ponder .... majoring in general studies. ESPN after catching 80-yard scoring pass against Illinois State ... played as a freshman at Tulsa ... good size for a wide receiver ... really goes after the football ... good speed and quickness ... should vie for post-season honors.
PONDER'S STATISTICS
YearCatches YardsAvg. TD KOR Yards TD
2001 70 1,09015.6 11 13 283 0
