He accepted a football scholarship from Florida State University where he was a two-year starter at nose guard and defensive tackle for the Seminoles.
As a junior in 1982, he was moved from defensive tackle to nose guard to replace an injured Lennie Chavers.
Ponder was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1984 NFL draft.
On October 26, he was released to make room to activate defensive tackle Don Smerek.
[8] His son Christian played quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles while in college and the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League.