ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Christian Ponder's three classes this semester include project management, information and technology management, and business law. He's also taking intro to theater. (Florida State's quarterback has to get a break somewhere and still take the 12 credits required for eligibility.)

During his spare time, Ponder has led the Seminoles to the top of the Atlantic Division standings heading into Saturday's game at Georgia Tech.

	Doug Benc/Getty Images
	Against Miami, Christian Ponder rushed for a career-high 144 yards on a career-high 19 carries.

No wonder he said he sleeps until 11 a.m. It's about the only thing he does late.

Ponder, a redshirt sophomore, graduated early from high school. He made the most of Florida State's summer school and graduated early from college -- the first quarterback Bobby Bowden said he has ever had graduate in two and a half years. And Ponder did it with a 3.7 grade point average. Ponder will get his MBA and still have three semesters to spare. So it has come as little surprise to anyone inside the football program Ponder has learned the offense ahead of schedule, too.

"I've always felt he was a fast learner," said offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. "I thought he was very intelligent and he was a guy that as long as I've coached him, he doesn't make a lot of the same mistakes twice. He processes what's happening in the situation he's in. What I want to see him do now is take the bull by the horns and become the leader we can count on, making plays in the clutch and start demanding more from his teammates as he goes."

Ponder's quick progression is one of the reasons the Seminoles have the top offense in the ACC (394.6 yards per game) and lead the league in scoring offense (36.3 points per game). Georgia Tech, though, has the best scoring defense, and is limiting opponents to just 13.1 points per game.

Ponder faced a tough Virginia Tech defense last weekend, though, and was able to make adjustments. After completing just 3 of 7 passes for 15 yards in the first half, Ponder completed 6 of 9 for 118 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter. He has now gone consecutive games without an interception.

"I didn't realize that I could do so well, but there were times when I thought I could do better," said Ponder, who has won six of his first seven career starts. "I think I have surprised myself a little bit."

The one thing he knew he could do -- which surprised just about everyone outside the program who was watching -- was run. Against Miami, Ponder rushed for a career-high 144 yards on a career-high 19 carries, nine of which were for first downs. The last FSU quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards in a game was Charlie Ward in 1992. Ponder is the team's second leading rusher this season with 278 yards.

"I ran a lot in high school," he said. "I always knew it. No one else knew it, and going into that Miami game, coach put in several running plays for me and then luckily it opened up the way it did. I don't think anyone expected it. Now, people are game planning for it and my numbers haven't been as high as they were before."

And odds are that won't change in Atlanta, where he will face one of the top defensive lines in the league.

Coincidentally, Georgia Tech was the other school high on Ponder's list when he was being recruited. It was one of the first programs to offer him a scholarship, and he liked the school on his visit, particularly the academics it had to offer.

But Ponder's father, David, was a defensive lineman for the Noles from 1980-83, and Ponder was raised in Texas as a Florida State fan. There is a cabinet in their home filled with Florida State memorabilia, including his dad's old jerseys.

"He's given me a lot of great advice," Ponder said. "Obviously I don't think I'd be here if it weren't for him. Ever since I was little he was always pushing me to get better. He's been a tremendous influence on me.

"It's a huge deal. He's always had stories about how good Florida State was. When I came in, it wasn't nearly close to what it used to be. I've always worked hard to get it back where it was and have those same memories my dad had. Every day I dream of getting there, and that's what we're doing. We're working hard to get it back to where it was."

And if the Noles follow their young quarterback's lead, odds are they'll do it ahead of schedule.