NFL dream comes to life for Ponder

Willie Ponder's dream has come true.

Ponder, an All-American wide receiver for Southeast Missouri State University last season, survived the New York Giants' final roster cuts over the weekend and will be in uniform Sunday when the Giants open the season against the visiting Rams.

"It's been a dream of mine to play in the NFL and now I'm there," Ponder said Monday. "It's just a blessing and I'm very excited."

As a sixth-round draft choice, Ponder faced relatively tough odds to stick with the Giants -- but he apparently opened too many eyes in training camp and the preseason not to make it.

Although Ponder wasn't used extensively during the Giants' four preseason games, he did catch three passes and was impressive on special teams. So he made the 53-man roster, despite the Giants deciding to keep only five wide receivers, including veterans Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard and Tim Carter, along with seventh-round draft choice David Tyree. A sixth receiver, veteran Ron Dixon, is injured and on the physically unable to perform list.

"I like them both," said coach Jim Fassel on the Giants' Web site, referring to Ponder and Tyree. "They've made plays, like the catch Ponder made on the goal line the other night against Baltimore. That was a great catch.

"Ponder made tackles; they both played extremely well on special teams. And they showed me enough promise at receiver. They're inexperienced, they're going to make mistakes, but they showed me they have potential."

Said Ponder, "I was confident coming in, but I knew as a sixth-round pick it was going to be tough. What really got me on the team was special teams. I knew that was going to be a real big key, so I just went out every day and worked hard."

Ponder also took advantage of the limited opportunities he had as a receiver during the preseason schedule, catching everything that came his way.

"I tried to perform every opportunity that I got," he said. "They didn't throw to me that often, but I caught everything they did throw to me."

Ponder, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder with impressive speed and leaping ability, played just two seasons at Southeast but he became one of the top receivers in school history, catching 157 passes for 2,543 yards and 26 touchdowns.

As a senior last year, Ponder set school single-season records with 87 receptions for 1,453 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averaged 16.7 yards per catch.

"I had a great two years at Southeast and I appreciate everything the coaches did for me," Ponder said.

Now that Ponder is in the NFL, he knows all the hard work that helped him land a spot on the Giants will have to be turned up even more.

"I just have to work harder now," he said. "That's the thing about it, everybody will turn it up a notch. I have to keep showing the coaches that I belong here."

Ponder is excited that the Giants are opening the season against the Rams and he hopes to see some action on special teams, although he figures getting in at wide receiver will be difficult.

Ponder is listed third on the Giants' depth chart at one of their two receiver spots. The starters are Toomer, who caught 82 passes last year, and Hilliard, who had 27 receptions.

"If I do get a chance to get on the field, I'm just going to do my job like I have so far," Ponder said. "The starting receivers are going to play so unless something happens, it's going to be hard to get in there. And they're good, they should play.

"But I'll be ready for whatever they need me to do. I'm just happy it's worked out this way so far and I'm just going to keep working hard."