Published: January 02, 2009 11:52 pm         

Ponder committed to Western Michigan

BLUEFIELD — Ansel Ponder announced his intentions to play college football at Western Michigan last summer, but changed his mind.

Six months later, Ponder has decided on Western Michigan again. This time, there will be no change of heart.

He leaves today for Kalamazoo, Mich., home of the Broncos.

“I’m committed,” Ponder said. “I’m just excited to get up there and play football and start school.”

Ponder, who graduated from Bluefield High School last May, spent the fall semester at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. Ponder followed in the footsteps of former Bluefield basketball player Dexter Moore, who is now a contributor as a freshman at Coastal Carolina.

“It’s pretty tough, it’s not something the average kid would do, it was a big change,” said Ponder, a first-team All-Class AA wide receiver and basketball player as a senior at Bluefield. “Just living every day, it’s just a lot different. You don’t really know what is going in the outside world.”

Western Michigan thought they had Ponder last summer, but he had a change of heart, deciding instead to attend Hargrave, a military school that has produced more than 30 NFL prospects, including five first round selections since 1999.

While Ponder didn’t get to play as much as he would have liked at Hargrave, he stood out during a combine for college coaches held at the school.

“It went OK, it was a learning experience, that was about it,” Ponder said. “I felt early like I should have got more looks (at receiver), but as far as wide receiver, I did the best in the combine.

“We had a combine and I did the best by far of the wide receivers.”

Marshall offered Ponder a scholarship not long after the Tigers defeated the Thundering Herd’s junior varsity squad 13-9. However, the Herd seemed to forget about him.

“Marshall offered me right after the game, but they didn’t keep in touch,” Ponder said.

Western Michigan did, even after the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Ponder changed his mind last summer.

“They just stuck with me, they didn’t hold that against me, and that was big for me,” said Ponder, who runs the 40-yard dash in a swift 4.65 seconds. “Then I went on another visit and liked it so I was like there was no need to stay at Hargrave the rest of the year.”

Part of his reluctance last season was being so far away from home. That is no longer the case.

“Going to Hargrave, that helped me out a lot,” Ponder said. “Going away is nothing no more, Hargrave, it was pretty tough.”

Ponder leaves today for Michigan. He’ll participate in spring drills, and be eligible to play when Western Michigan opens its 2009 season.

The Broncos were 9-4 this year, including wins over Illinois and Buffalo, and losses to Nebraska, Ball State, along with a 38-14 defeat to Rice in last Tuesday’s Texas Bowl.

Ponder can’t wait to get started.

“They’re excited, I’m excited, and I just want to make the most of the opportunity,” Ponder said. “I’m real excited, I just want to get started.

“I can start in spring ball so that is real exciting for me because I can get a head start.”

Ponder spent part of Friday at Bluefield High School watching his brother, Craig, lead the Beavers to a 54-48 basketball win over Scott.

“It was real fun, they had me nervous at times, but they all played well,” Ponder said. “They just need to get a little bit more under control and play a little bit smarter and I think they’ll have a pretty good season.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

     

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