Ponder an All-America pick

Many people who saw Willie Ponder play football this year thought he was among the very elite NCAA Division I-AA wide receivers in the nation.

That was confirmed Wednesday when Southeast Missouri State University's record-setting performer made the American Football Coaches Association All-America team.

The AFCA All-America team, selected through a committee made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts, has only 11 offensive and 11 defensive players in addition to three specialists. Quarterback Tony Romo was the only other player honored from the Ohio Valley Conference.

"I'm surprised I made it," Ponder said, "but I'm really happy."

Ponder recently finished fifth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award which is the I-AA equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

"To get fifth in the Walter Payton, and now first-team All-America, it's just been a blessing," Ponder said. "I put in the work to do what I could to make me the best player possible."

Ponder, a native of Tulsa, Okla., was a special player in his two seasons with the Indians after beginning his college career at I-A Tulsa and then attending to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College before transferring to Southeast.

As a senior this year, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Ponder caught 87 passes for 1,453 yards and 15 touchdowns, all school records. He led the OVC in every receiving category while finishing second in the nation in total receiving yards and third in receiving yards per game.

Last year, in his first season at Southeast, Ponder caught 70 passes for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns as he earned honorable-mention All-America honors.

Ponder is Southeast's career record-holder with 2,543 receiving yards and 26 touchdown receptions.

"Willie just had a tremendous two years for us and he's deserving of every award he receives," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "He was certainly the top receiver in Division I-AA and I feel confident he will have the opportunity to play at the next level."

Ponder said making his individual accomplishments this year even more special is that they helped the Indians to their first winning season since 1994 and their best record since 1969. Southeast went 8-4 and broke into the national I-AA regular-season rankings for the first time.

"Helping the team do so well and getting the program going in the right direction, that makes this even more special," he said.

Now Ponder will turn his attention to a potential career in the National Football League. Several NFL scouts attended practices and games this year to get a look at Ponder. Even if he isn't drafted, he is a virtual lock to land in an NFL training camp.

"My goal is to make it in the NFL. I've got to work hard from now until April" when the draft is held, Ponder said. "I've just got to work harder than I ever have before."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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