Blue-chip QB Matt Ponatoski visits Kentucky again

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Moeller Crusaders Matt Ponatoski (7) looks to throw in the first half of a second-round Division I OHSAA high school football game against the St. Xavier Bombers, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at St. Xavier High School s RDI Field in Cincinnati. | © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller quarterback Matt Ponatoski quickly emerged as one of the top targets for Kentucky in the 2026 high school recruiting cycle. Are offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan and the Cats now surging for the star passer?

First reported on KSBoard, Ponatoski made a surprise visit to Kentucky on Monday just one day ahead of the Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles. Are we on commit watch? We just might be.

In a recent interview with On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Matt Ponatoski stated that a decision is right around the corner. The four-star prospect opened up on his recruitment and what he likes about Kentucky.

“Obviously it’s close to home. That’s something my family they’re really supportive and a lot of family likes to come to games. Not just immediate family so it would be real easy to get there,” Ponatoski said. “The baseball coaches, what they told me and how they run their team is amazing. One of the only coaches I talked to where God is the center of their program. The football side of it Coach Hamdan we’ve had great talks. They’ve been really good and really heavy for a real long time now and I can really respect that.”

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The plan is for Matt Ponatoski to play both football and baseball in college. However, the quarterback does admit that a 2026 MLB Draft decision needs to be made but this is the NIL age where schools now have financial ways to keep players out of the pros.

Ponatoski led Moeller to a state championship as a junior in a year where he threw for over 4,000 yards and 56 touchdowns. The prospect took home Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year honors in both football and baseball.

Kentucky has a chance to record a massive commitment at the sport’s most important position.

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Kentucky’s 2026 high school recruiting class

Player	Position	High School	Ranking
Jarvis Strickland	T (6-4, 280)	Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman	4-star (No. 355 overall)
Jordan Crutchfield	CB (6-2, 195)	Vero Beach (Fla.) High	High 3-star (No. 416 overall)
Messiah Tilson	S (6-2, 165)	Rockford (Ill.) Guilford	High 3-star (No. 450 overall)
Prince Jean	WR (6-0, 170)	Valdosta (Ga.) High	3-star (No. 713 overall)
Davis McCray	WR (6-2, 190)	San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian	3-star (No. 1,053 overall)
Cameron Miller	T (6-5, 310)	Hammond (Ind.) Morton	3-star (No. 1,320 overall)