Michigan offers 2026 4-star QB Matt Ponatoski

Michigan left its stamp on the world of quarterback recruiting in the 2025 cycle, flipping No. 1 overall prospect and Five-Star Plus+ gunslinger Bryce Underwood from LSU late last fall.

The Wolverines are set to finish with a top-10 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings with attention turning fully toward the 2026 class this week. The Wolverines are once again on the hunt for a blue-chip QB recruit.

On Tuesday, head coach Sherrone Moore dished out an offer to Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star QB Matt Ponatoski:

After a great conversation with @Coach_SMoore I am blessed to have received an offer from the University of Michigan@Coach_B10 @CoachKontsis @AllenTrieu @Elite11 @QuincyAvery @J_MARSH2024@Rivals @On3Recruits pic.twitter.com/teUOWS8OQE

— Matt Ponatoski (@mattponatoski) February 4, 2025

For Ponatoski, his college athletics plans are still not finalized. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is also a prized shortstop prospect in baseball and has not yet decided if he wants to attempt to play both sports at the next level. He told KSR’s Jacob Polacheck last month that it’s still “up in the air” on when he’ll come to a decision.

On the gridiron, though, Ponatoski excelled heavily as a junior in 2024. Leading Moeller to a state title appearance and 14 total wins, he was named the Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year. Ponatoski threw for over 4,000 yards and 56 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Michigan will look to enter the race for one of the top QBs in the cycle. The Wolverines currently have just two commitments in their 2026 class via Jacksonville Mandarin four-star cornerback Brody Jennings and Southlake (Texas) Parish Episcopal three-star wide receiver Jayden Pile.

The 2024 cycle saw Michigan sign Archbishop Moeller four-star running back Jordan Marshall, a top-100 prospect who headlined the Wolverines’ class.

Matt Ponatoski Recruit Profile

Ponatoski is now the No. 289 overall prospect and No. 19 QB in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3 is significantly higher on Ponatoski than the other major recruiting services. He ranks No. 109 overall, No. 9 at QB and No. 6 in the state of Ohio, per the 2026 On300.

On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power wrote this of Ponatoski in October:

“Matt Ponatoski has seen his recruitment take off in football as a junior and he’s having a fantastic season, playing top competition at Moeller High in Cincinnati. His film as a passer is up there with the best we’ve watched so far in this junior season. He’s just dicing teams up, showing good arm talent, the ability to make throws to multiple levels, throwing with touch and accuracy. He has an interesting background. He’s considered an elite baseball prospect, the No. 1 baseball prospect in Ohio, has over 40 offers.

“I think he’s going to have a lot of options in football once he starts to gain traction with college coaches based on how he’s played to this point. His production as a passer is among the best we’ve seen in this cycle and I think he has the look of a national prospect at QB, based off the film and what he’s done so far this fall.”