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Christian Ponder made a habit out of playing well in big games during his college career, and he continued that tradition all the way through the final game of his amateur career. As the starting quarterback for the South squad in the 2011 Senior Bowl, Ponder guided his team to a 24-10 win and earned MVP honors along the way.

Ponder was one of three quarterbacks to play in the game for the South, but he took the vast majority of snaps and was 7 of 13 for 132 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions on the day. He connected with wide receiver Leonard Hankerson for an 18-yard score late in the 1st quarter and then with Jeremy Kerley from 23 yards out late in 4th quarter to seal the victory.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman is a big proponent of the Senior Bowl, so there’s no question that Ponder’s performance in the game was at least a minor factor in the Vikings decision to select the former Florida State University standout with the No. 12 overall pick.

“The Senior Bowl helped me in my development and draft status,” Ponder said recently in reflecting upon his experience. “I had the Buffalo Bills coaches and was on the South team. Every coaching staff is different, but it gives you a feel for how a team is run in the NFL. It’s also very organized and run very well.”

The Vikings have been asked to coach in this year’s Senior Bowl, so Leslie Frazier and his staff will lead the North squad this week during practice leading up Saturday night’s game. This experience will be beneficial for Frazier and his group because they’ll get an up-close and personal look at the nation’s top senior football players in advance of April’s NFL draft. It’s also a great opportunity for Spielman and his personnel staff for the very same reasons.

It’s likely at least one of the individuals competing during Senior Bowl week will be on the Vikings roster after this year’s draft. In last year’s draft, the Vikings selected five players who participated in the 2011 Senior Bowl – Ponder, defensive lineman Christian Ballard, offensive lineman Brandon Fusco, linebacker Ross Homan and offensive lineman DeMarcus Love. Four of those five are currently on the roster, and Ponder will be the team’s No. 1 quarterback heading into the offseason program.

The Senior Bowl is also a good experience for the players, though, because it gives them exposure to life in the NFL.

“It’s a cut-down version of the typical NFL routine, but it does give you a feel for what it’s like at the next level,” Ponder said. “In the morning you have a practice schedule and meetings, and then in the afternoon you go out to a community event for a charity function of some kind.

“It gives seniors an opportunity to show what they have at a time when the underclassmen aren’t there. I tried to seek the limelight while I was there, and I enjoyed myself. As I said, it was set up really well and it was a great experience.”