Willie Ponder

Last updated

Willie Ponder
No. 87, 83, 88
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1980-02-14) February 14, 1980 (age 44)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Tulsa (OK) Central
College: Southeast Missouri State
NFL draft: 2003  / round: 6 / pick: 199
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:8
Receiving yards:38
Touchdowns:0
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Willie Columbus Ponder (born February 14, 1980) is an American former professional football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the New York Giants and one season with Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams.

Contents

He played college football at Southeast Missouri State University.

Professional career

New York Giants

Ponder was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round (199th pick overall) of the 2003 NFL draft. [2] He has contributed as kickoff returner in 2004, when he led the NFL with a kickoff return average of 26.9 yards, the first Giant to lead the NFL in average kickoff return yardage since Clarence Childs in 1964 (David Meggett led the NFC in 1990). For New York, he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, the first coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 and second coming in the 2005 season opener against Arizona. Ponder was benched ten games into the 2005 season despite a kickoff return average of 25.9 yards, in favor of Chad Morton. This led to a decline in the success of Giants special teams. He has lost two fumbles in his career to date, and scored two touchdowns on kick returns as well. He was released on September 2, 2006.

Seattle Seahawks

He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on September 5, 2006, and released on October 24, 2006.

St. Louis Rams

He was on the St. Louis Rams for the 2006 season but was not signed for 2007.

Semi-pro career

Ponder played for the Oklahoma Thunder in the Gridiron Developmental Football League. [3]

Personal life

He is also the cousin of former NFL players Jewerl and Ken Thomas.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deion Branch</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Anthony Deion Branch Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He is the director of player development and alumni relations at the University of Louisville. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1981)

Julius Andre Maurice Jones is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jones was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dante Hall</span> American football player (born 1978)

Damieon Dante Hall is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is nicknamed "the Human Joystick" and "the X-Factor". He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft. Hall played for the Chiefs for seven years before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2007. Hall was ranked the 10th greatest return specialist in NFL history on NFL Network's NFL Top 10 Return Aces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Karney</span> American football player (born 1981)

Michael John Mario Karney is a former American football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for Arizona State University. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft, and also played for the NFL's St. Louis Rams.

Timothy M. Carter is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Brown (American football)</span> American football player (born 1979)

Joshua Clell Brown is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Brown was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Hester</span> American football player (born 1982)

Devin Devorris Hester Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). The only primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was the first player in the university's recent history to play in all three phases of American football: offense, defense and special teams. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. Hester also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks over his 11-season NFL career. He is also the only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. Hester was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon Washington</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Leon Dewitt Washington Sr. is an American former professional football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back and return specialist and made 2 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro teams during his career. Washington holds many kick return records for both the Jets and Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Seattle Seahawks season</span> 30th season in franchise history; first Super Bowl appearance

The 2005 Seattle Seahawks season was the franchise's 30th season in the National Football League (NFL), their fourth playing their home games at Qwest Field and their seventh season under head coach Mike Holmgren. They won the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game and played in Super Bowl XL, which they lost 21–10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seahawks compiled a 13–3 record in the regular season, easily winning the NFC West and earning the NFC top seed, thus clinching home field advantage in the NFC playoffs for the first time in franchise history. There, they beat the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers to win the George Halas Trophy, and advance to their first ever Super Bowl. Combining the regular season and postseason, the Seahawks finished with a perfect 10–0 record at Qwest Field. The 2005 team was widely considered the best team in club history until the Super Bowl XLVIII championship. The 2005 season was also the team's 30th anniversary season in the NFL. The Seahawks were the only NFC team from the 2004 playoffs to qualify for the 2005 playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cortland Finnegan</span> American football player (born 1984)

Cortland Temujin Finnegan is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Samford Bulldogs, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft. Finnegan was also a member of the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. He was a Pro Bowler in 2008.

Anthony Edward Green is an American former professional football player who was a kickoff returner and running back in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the late 1970s. Green played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Tate</span> American football player (born 1988)

Golden Herman Tate III is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2009. Tate was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He later played for the Detroit Lions, with whom he made a Pro Bowl appearance. He also played a season for the Philadelphia Eagles and two seasons for the New York Giants. After his football career, Tate played baseball as a center fielder for the Port Angeles Lefties of the West Coast League (WCL) in 2022 after not playing the sport since 2009.

Zachary C. Dixon is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Lockett</span> American football player (born 1992)

Tyler Deron Lockett is an American professional football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats. In college, he set numerous Kansas State football records and was both a 2011 All-American and 2014 College Football All-America Team consensus All-American selection. In college, he totaled 6,586 career all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns, including 3,710 yards and 29 touchdowns as a receiver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tavon Austin</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tavon Wesley Austin is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American professional football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, kickoff returner, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.

Willie Earl Shelby is a former American football running back and kick returner who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). In 1976 as a rookie in the NFL he led the league in several kick return categories. He played college football at Alabama.

References

  1. "Willie Ponder". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  2. "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  3. Davis, Dwayne (May 6, 2009). "The Real Thunder: Ready for your love, Tulsa's World Football League team gears up for another season". Urban Tulsa. Retrieved July 30, 2010.