Football
(opens in a new tab)
Matt Ponatoski - Football - University of Kentucky Athletics 9

MattPonatoski

  • position Quarterback
  • height 6-1
  • Weight 205
  • class Freshman
  • Hometown Cincinnati, Ohio
  • High school Archbishop Moeller
BIO

High School
• A dual-sport standout in both football and baseball at Archbishop Moeller
• Was drafted in the 18th round of the 2026 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds
• A four-star commit who ranked the No. 13 quarterback nationally in the 2026 class by 247Sports Composite
• A four-year starter at quarterback for head coach Bert Bathiany
• Completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,395 yards and 28 touchdowns with just one interception in 12 games as a senior
• Named First-team Division I All-Ohio, First-team Division I All-Southwest District, GCL South Co-Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-GCL South
• Named a 2025 Ohio Mr. Football finalist
• Posted a 0.83 ERA in 25⅓ innings with 44 strikeouts, while hitting .314 with one home run in 86 at-bats as a pitcher and designated hitter as a senior
• Earned Ohio Mr. Football honors as a junior in 2024 after throwing for 4,217 yards (a school record), 57 touchdowns (a school record) with just three interceptions
• Named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Ohio in both football and baseball as junior, becoming just the third player in the award’s history to win it in two different sports in the same school year, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss and National Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer
• Became the Crusaders’ all-time leader in career passing yards and career touchdown passes
• Led his team to the OHSAA Division I state championship in 2024 with a 14-2 record
• Won the pro day competition and was named to the 12-man Elite 11 finalist list in 2024
• Chose UK over Alabama, Arkansas and Oregon

Personal
• Born in Cincinnati
• Son of Ryan and Becky Ponatoski
• Siblings are Ellie and Kendall
• Major is undecided

Matt Says
• His nickname is “Matty P”
• After football, his dream is to play baseball and eventually become a coach
• Three words to describe him are calm, exciting and caring
• The best advice he’s ever received is “don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from”
• Besides playing football and other sports, he’s also really good at Scrabble

Read more