A Decade of Brotherhood: How high school teammates became Cal Poly Football’s defensive backbone
This is a cross-published piece with Mustang News, more information can be found here.
Brotherhood is a common theme built into the philosophies of football programs of all levels. Strong bonds are built through hardship and earned trust, and the football field creates the conditions for players to form these bonds.
Redshirt seniors Ethan Rodriguez and Elijah Ponder have been teammates for nine straight years, dating back to their freshman year of high school at Bishop Amat in La Puente, California.
The defensive line duo endured hardship and victory during their time together at Bishop Amat and Cal Poly.
Transitioning to Cal Poly during the COVID-19 pandemic
According to MaxPreps, Rodriguez and Ponder enjoyed being on the No. 16-ranked Bishop Amat football team in California during their senior year of high school. Rodriguez and Ponder also played for the basketball team.
“Playing in high school, it was really everything I could ask for,” Ponder said.
Although Ponder and Rodriguez did not intentionally plan to attend the same university, they were glad that both paths led them to Cal Poly.
They graduated high school together at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Although they spent their freshman year in separate rooms, Rodriguez and Ponder’s rooms were adjacent, allowing them to further build their relationship.
“It was a really big thing for me, coming to college with someone I knew, someone I played with and trust,” Ponder said. “It was an easy adjustment for me, but I was blessed, really.”
Although social distancing was encouraged back then, football practice was among the few places players got to talk to anyone in person. Rodriguez said they were “pretty close” in high school, but their relationship grew once they got to Cal Poly.
“Elijah and I are the same, he’s a chill guy and he’s been super humble with all of the attention he’s gotten,” Rodriguez said. “We mostly stay at home and chill out when we’re both free.”
Success in the backfield this season
Rodriguez and Ponder have an established dynamic on the field this season. Rodriguez plays on the interior of the defensive line at defensive tackle, and Ponder rushes off the edge as a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid in a 4-3 style defensive front.
Rodriguez says they are a “good mix of power and speed.” The duo has combined for a total of nine sacks so far. They are first and second on the team with tackles for loss, Ponder garnering 10-and-a-half and Rodriguez with nine-and-a-half with one game left.
“We have different schemes to where we set him free and rush off the edge, or we can open up the gap for me to run through,” Rodriguez said.
Ponder has attracted the attention of scouts from the National Football League after garnering an FCS All-American First team selection last season. He is third in program history in all-time sacks with 25.
Head coach Paul Wulff applauds Ponder’s work ethic since arriving at Cal Poly.
“Over a five year period to watch this guy just continue to work and be consistent and be a phenomenal leader by his actions is very impressive,” Wulff said.
Going their separate ways
After the football season, Ponder will be moving out of San Luis Obispo to begin training for professional football.
Ponder is in the five-year architectural engineering program at Cal Poly. At the end of the fall quarter, he will be pausing his degree, which he can complete at any time.
“[Attending Cal Poly] has been more than what I expected,” Ponder said. “It’s a great place with great people, the reason why I’m still here in my fifth year.”
Rodriguez plans to complete his bachelor’s degree in the spring quarter and complete his master’s next year.
His ultimate goal is to get to the next level of football, but Rodriguez has another responsibility: his infant daughter, born in September 2023.
“It’s definitely had its ups and downs, but it’s an amazing feeling and it’s taught me so much and I’ve matured,” Rodriguez said.
While attending Cal Poly, he lives three hours away from his girlfriend and daughter in West Covina. They try to visit each other whenever they can, but there are times when he can’t see them for extended periods.
“It sucks, definitely, but it also gives me motivation for everything I do here,” Rodriguez said.
Although their paths are diverging, Ponder and Rodriguez are excited about each other’s futures, as they will soon say goodbye.
“Honestly, it hasn’t really hit me, and it probably won’t until football is done,” Ponder said. “But right now, I’m just enjoying the present.”
