Latest news with #MattPonatoski
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It's a blessing.' Cincinnati HS football, baseball star Matt Ponatoski commits to Kentucky
The Fourth of July fireworks continued into Sunday night for the Ponatoski family. Shortly after Matt, a four-star quarterback and MaxPreps baseball All-American, committed to the University of Kentucky, his family lit off blue and white fireworks at their home in Hamilton. Advertisement He chose the Wildcats from a final four that included Alabama, Arkansas and Oregon. They made plans for the party at the last minute. Ponatoski expected that maybe 15 people would show up; the expansive front lawn was full of cars as around 100 of his friends and family members were on hand to watch him make his decision. Moeller's Matt Ponatoski speaks to his family and friends after verbally committing to the University of Kentucky. "It's a blessing. It's been four years of my life that I've done this recruiting process, so it's kind of a surreal moment because my family's been a big part of it for a really long time now and I don't know where I'd be without them," Ponatoski said. Advertisement He chose the Wildcats in part because of the proximity to home. Instead of hopping on a flight, they will only have to drive two hours to watch him play at the next level. On the football field, Moeller's Matt Ponatoski holds school records for career passing yards, career passing touchdowns and single-game passing touchdowns. Last fall, Ponatoski threw for 4,217 yards and 57 touchdowns, both single-season school records, to lead Moeller to its first Division I state championship game since 2013. For his career, he has 7,654 passing yards, 87 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He became the second player in school history to be named Ohio Mr. Football after Jordan Marshall won the award in 2023. He was also named the Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year. From June 17 to 19, Ponatoski attended the Elite 11 finals in Southern California. It is dubbed as the nation's premier quarterback camp series since 1999. He competed alongside Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon, Texas commit Dia Bell and Landon Duckworth, who is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the class of 2026. After being named the Pro Day MVP and performing well in the camp's 7-on-7 competition, he earned high praise from various scouting services. Advertisement How will Matt Ponatoski fit in with the University of Kentucky football program? Kentucky currently has five quarterbacks on its roster for this fall: graduate students Zach Calzada and Beau Allen, and freshmen Cutter Boley, Stone Saunders and Brennen Ward. In 2024, the Wildcats went 4-8, including a 1-7 mark in the Southeastern Conference. That snapped an eight-season bowl eligibility streak. They won four straight bowl games from 2018 to 2021. At Kroger Field, Ponatoski will look to mirror the success of another local quarterback, Highlands graduate Jared Lorenzen. He threw for 10,354 yards and 78 touchdowns before winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. When Ponatoski informed offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan of his decision, he could tell the staff truly valued him. Advertisement "I don't know what he did on the other side of that phone, but it sounded super fun and I wanted to be a part of it. He was super excited, and he texted my family after. It was special for me because he told me it was one of the better days of his football career so far," Ponatoski said. Matt Ponatoski has been a key part of Moeller baseball's 54-7 record over the last two years. How would Matt Ponatoski fit into the UK baseball program? On the baseball diamond this spring, Ponatoski hit .440 with seven doubles, four home runs, 38 RBIs and 12 stolen bases as the Crusaders advanced to their third straight regional final. In two seasons, the sure-handed shortstop has a .415 batting average with a .518 on-base percentage and a .620 slugging percentage. Advertisement His father, Ryan, who played at Northern Kentucky University and was a middle infield coach for the Norse until 2009, aided Matt's baseball development. He stopped coaching when Becky was pregnant with Matt's younger sister, Kendall, an up-and-coming softball star at Badin. "He set the foundation, and it's been working for a really long time. He's been working with me, really, since I was born," Ponatoski said. At the end of the season, Ponatoski was named the Gatorade Ohio Baseball Player of the Year. He became just the third player in the award's history to win for two different sports in the same year, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss and National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Joe Mauer. On the diamond, the Wildcats are coming off a 31-26 season that saw them appear in the Clemson regional final in the NCAA tournament. Kentucky has made 10 NCAA tournament appearances in program history. Under ninth-year head coach Nick Mingione, the Wildcats advanced to their first super regional in 2017 and made their first College World Series appearance in 2023. Advertisement Did the Elite 11 competition influence Matt Ponatoski's college commitment decision? In late June, fellow four-star quarterbacks Jett Thomalla and Bryson Beaver committed to Alabama and Oregon, respectively. Ponatoski competed alongside both players at Elite 11, but said their decisions didn't impact his. "I had opportunities to commit then and I didn't, but I made the decision before Beaver went to Oregon. I was talking to people and the feeling was relief. I think that's the big thing for me, and that's how I knew it was the right thing," Ponatoski said. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Football, baseball star Matt Ponatoski picks University of Kentucky
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky lands 4-star QB Matt Ponatoski
Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats scored a major win on the recruiting trail, landing a commitment from 4-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski in the class of 2026. Ponatoski made the announcement on Sunday while saying he will play football and baseball for the Cats. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound standout from Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller chose the Wildcats over finalists Alabama, Arkansas, and Oregon. Advertisement Ponatoski is one of the most decorated multi-sport athletes in the country. Earlier this year, he was named both the Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year and the Gatorade Ohio Baseball Player of the Year, which is a rare double honor achieved by only a handful of elite athletes, including legends like Joe Mauer and Randy Moss. On the football field, Ponatoski's junior season was nothing short of spectacular. He passed for over 4,000 yards and threw 56 touchdowns to just three interceptions, leading Moeller to a 14-win season and a trip to the Division I state championship game. His combination of arm talent, poise, and athleticism makes him one of the most sought-after quarterback prospects in the 2026 cycle. A dual-threat on the diamond as well, Ponatoski batted .437 with 29 RBIs and 22 runs scored, helping lead his team to a top seed in the Ohio state tournament. He also recorded 10 stolen bases and two saves as a pitcher. With his commitment, Kentucky secures one of the premier athletes in the country and adds a game-changing talent to its quarterback room of the future. Ponatoski's decision signals the Wildcats' growing influence in Ohio and on the national recruiting stage. Advertisement More from
USA Today
04-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
Oregon Football QB target Matt Ponatoski joins Randy Moss with rare accomplishment
Oregon Football QB target Matt Ponatoski joins Randy Moss with rare accomplishment Dan Lanning has demonstrated a trend of recruiting dual-sport athletes over the past few years and utilizing players who specialize in sports other than football for the Oregon Ducks. We've seen this most notably with linebacker Bryce Boettcher, who was drafted by the Houston Astros last year, and 5-star tight end commit Kendre Harrison is another example, excelling in both football and basketball. It appears that the Ducks are after another elite dual-sport athlete in 4-star QB Matt Ponatoski. On Tuesday, it was announced that Ponatoski accomplished a rare feat, winning the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year for both football and baseball. According to WCPO's Mike Dyer, Ponatoski is one of only three players to ever accomplish this in the 40 years that Gatorade has been giving out the awards, joining Randy Moss (football and basketball) and Matt Bauer (football and baseball). Last week it was announced that Ponatoski — the No. 293 player and No. 22 QB in the class — will take an official visit to Oregon on June 20. That will be a massive weekend for the Ducks, with 5-star OT Immanuel Iheanacho, 5-star TE Mark Bowman, 5-star TE Kendre Harrison, and 5-star ATH Jalen Lott all in town as well. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
Alabama among finalists for top uncommitted 2026 quarterback
Alabama among finalists for top uncommitted 2026 quarterback After reportedly setting an upcoming visit to Tuscaloosa, 2026 quarterback Matt Ponatoski has now announced a list of four finalists, a group that includes the Alabama Crimson Tide. In addition to Alabama, Ponatoski also includes the Arkansas Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats, and Oregon Ducks among his finalists. A two-sport athlete who is also a top baseball prospect, Ponatoski is currently rated as the nation's No. 278 overall player in the 2026 class regardless of position, per the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings. A four-star recruit, Ponatoski is also considered as the No. 21 overall quarterback in the class, as well as the No. 12 player in the state of Ohio where he attends Archbishop Moeller High School. At the moment, a commitment date is not currently set for Ponatoski. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama to reportedly receive visit from uncommitted 2026 quarterback prospect
Alabama to reportedly receive visit from uncommitted 2026 quarterback prospect According to reports, one of the nation's top uncommitted 2026 quarterback prospects will be visiting the Alabama Crimson Tide in the near future. That quarterback is Matt Ponatoski, a four-star prospect who recently received an offer from the Crimson Tide back in mid-May. The visit to Alabama is reportedly set for June 6-8. According to the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, Ponatoski is currently considered the nation's No. 278 overall player in the 2026 class, as well as the No. 21 quarterback out of Archbishop Moeller High School in Ohio. There, the four-star signal caller is also ranked the No. 12 overall player in the state where he won Mr. Football in 2024 as a junior. A two-sport athlete, Ponatoski is also a top baseball recruit in the 2026 class, and was also named to compete in the upcoming Elite 11 finals for football. At the moment, Alabama does not have a quarterback committed in its' 2026 class. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
