Elijah Ponder

Elijah Ponder
No. 91 – New England Patriots
PositionOutside linebacker
Roster status
Active
Personal information
Born (2002-08-24) August 24, 2002 (age 24)
Pomona, California, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight
261 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High schoolBishop Amat (La Puente, California)
CollegeCal Poly (2021–2024)
NFL draft2025: undrafted
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2026
Total tackles46
Sacks9.5
Forced fumbles1
Fumble recoveries4
Defensive touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Elijah Coltrane Ponder (born August 24, 2002) is an American professional football outside linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cal Poly Mustangs.

Early life

Ponder graduated from Bishop Amat High in La Puente, California.

College career

Ponder played for Cal Poly, collecting 27 sacks and blocking a field goal attempt and an extra point try while a Mustang. He scored one touchdown, a 75-yard interception return versus San Diego in 2021. He earned two first-team All-Big Sky selections in his career, in 2023 and 2024. Ponder was additionally named a 2023 Walter Camp FCS All-American.

He recorded a sack and two passes defensed in the 2025 East–West Shrine Bowl.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		251 lb
(114 kg)		33+1⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		6 ft 8 in
(2.03 m)		4.63 s1.56 s2.63 s4.28 s6.99 s41.0 in
(1.04 m)		11 ft 0 in
(3.35 m)		22 reps
All values from Pro Day

At his pro day, Ponder compiled a relative athletic score of 9.70, featuring a vertical jump of 41 inches, a broad jump of 11 feet, and a 10-yard split time of 1.56 seconds.

Ponder signed as an undrafted free agent with New England in April 2025.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFumFRYdsTD
2025NE 1502414104.04000.0000002180
2026NE 65211295.57000.0000102191
Career 2154526199.511000.0000104371

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFumFRYdsTD
2025NE 404220.00000.000000100
Career 404220.00000.000000100

References

  1. ↑ Robledo, Fred (February 6, 2020). "Signing Day: Athletes all across region reveal where they'll take their talents next". Pasadena Star News. p. 2.
  2. ↑ Baker, Dusty (September 4, 2021). "Cal Poly opens season with road win over San Diego". KSBY TV.
  3. ↑ "Ponder, Weichman, Saunders Earn All-Big Sky Honors". Cal Poly athletics. November 21, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Five Mustangs Earn Big Sky All-Conference Honors". Cal Poly athletics. November 27, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ Reuter, Chad (January 31, 2025). "2025 NFL Draft: Five prospects who stood out in East-West Shrine Bowl". NFL Network.
  6. ↑ "Elijah Ponder College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Elijah Ponder RAS". RAS.Football. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ Brown, Eddie (April 18, 2025). "2025 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Edge rushers". San Diego Union-Tribune.
  9. ↑ Ho, Matthew (April 30, 2025). "Cal Poly's Ponder signs with Patriots as undrafted free agent". The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA). pp. 1B.