College football quarterback Christian Ponder leads the Florida State Seminoles football team in the NCAA. After redshirting, Ponder made his college football debut with the Seminoles in 2007 and has continued with the team in the years since, including to begin his senior season in 2010. He is also a star off the field, earning his bachelor's degree in finance at Florida State University in two-and-a-half years. Prior to playing in college, Ponder was a standout player at Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas.http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ponder_christian00.html

Ponder is regarded as one of the top quarterbacks for the 2010 season and expected to be a contender for the 2010 Heisman Trophy, given to the top college football player in the country. To help his Heisman chances, the university launched a website, CP7ForHeisman.com, in July 2010.http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/07/07/florida-state-launches-website-touting-christian-ponder-for-heis/

Following his redshirt season in 2006, Ponder made his debut with the Seminoles in 2007 by playing in a single game. Though brief, his debut was notable as he recorded 108 passing yards and his first touchdown. Ponder earned a starting role for the 2008 campaign, starting in all 13 games. Totaling 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, Ponder helped the Seminoles finish with a 9-4 record. He was selected as the team's offensive MVP and nearly broke a school record for rushing yards in a game by a quarterback, recording 144 against the Miami Hurricanes, just two yards shy of the 146-yard record set in 1948.http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ponder_christian00.html

Ponder began his junior season showing a great deal of promise, including ranking alongside the top quarterbacks in the NCAA in nearly every statistical category. His season however was cut short after he was forced to undergo shoulder surgery.http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ponder_christian00.html Despite missing time, Ponder recorded 227 completions in 330 attempts for 2,717 yards and 14 touchdowns. Once his seven interceptions and 15 sacks were added in, he finished the shortened season with a quarterback rating of 147.70.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=183733