Following in the footsteps of his father, a former FSU defensive tackle, Christian Ponder would make his way to Tallahassee to play under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. Just a three-star recruit out of Colleyville, Texas, Ponder was the first of a new wave of FSU quarterbacks.
Ponder appeared in just one game as a freshman, coming in for an injured Drew Weatherford. It was a losing effort against Virginia Tech, but the first-year quarterback flashed the run-and-gun ability he would become known for, going 8-of-18 for 105 yards and a touchdown while rushing five times for 51 yards.