Ponder Signs With Patriots as Undrafted Free Agent
4/26/2025 7:15:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly football defensive end Elijah Ponder is headed to the NFL. Ponder was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots Saturday after the conclusion of the draft.
Ponder wrapped up a legendary Cal Poly career this past season and will go down as one of the best defensive players in Cal Poly football history. Ponder finished his Cal Poly career this past season as the second Mustang to earn at least two First Team All-Big Sky Selections and was a four time All-Big Sky honoree. He ranks third in program history with 27 sacks, first in quarterback hurries with 44, and fifth in tackles for loss with 43.5.
This past season, Ponder led the Mustangs in sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hurries for the second straight season and was named First Team All-Big Sky for a second straight season. His seven sacks ranked fourth in the Big Sky while his 12.5 tackles for loss were fifth most in the Big Sky.
In 2023, Ponder led the Big Sky and was fifth in the FCS in sacks with 10. He also had 52 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hurries, which tied the program record for most in a season. All that led him to being named First Team All-Big Sky and an FCS All-American.
Ponder finished his Cal Poly career ranked third in Cal Poly history with 27 sacks, first in quarterback hurries with 44, and fifth in tackles for loss with 43.5. He was also a four-time All-Big Sky honoree, earning Honorable Mention honors twice and First Team honors twice.
Ponder joins the likes of several former Mustangs to be signed by an NFL team as an undrafted free agent including most recently wide receivers Chris Coleman in 2023 and JJ Koski in 2020.
