Matt Ponatoski is an elite baseball player but Kentucky thinks he's also an elite quarterback.
Kentucky offensive coordinator Joe Sloan coached J’Mar Smith at Louisiana Tech when he was a starting quarterback and then played in the NFL. He played baseball for two years.
“When he became a starter (at quarterback), he ended up just playing football. He did a nice job of it. It was challenging, but I think it’s something that can be done with really good discipline, great schedule understanding about when you need to be to be places,” Sloan said.
That experience is important because Cincinnati four-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski, a December signee, also plans to play both sports at Kentucky. He is also an elite baseball player who could be picked in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft.
Sloan said during the spring Smith would practice football for Louisiana Tech unless he had a baseball game.
“He was able to do it because he stayed on top of his time management. They also are students first, so doing classes and making sure you stay ahead of the game that way is important too but no doubt it can be done. Matt won’t be the first to do it and he won’t be the last,” Sloan said.
While Sloan knows Ponatoski could play both sports, he also thinks he has a chance to be a special quarterback. Kentucky coach Will Stein was recruiting Ponatoski at Oregon and Sloan was recruiting the quarterback for LSU.
“He’s just a competitor, right? I think that’s where it starts. He’s really a good athlete. Got great balance and great arm talent,” the UK offensive coordinator said. “When you see just his competitiveness on the field. He can make every throw. Arm has a lot of flexibility.
“I think his presence is felt every time you’re around him, and especially when you get around him with his teammates. You can see what type of young man he is, and the respect that I think he has from his peers. That’s what it takes to play quarterback, and I think he’ll have an opportunity to not only make special plays himself, but also elevate the players around him.”
2 Responses
He will definitely need a redshirt year this year but I can see him possibly starting in 2027 depending on what happens with Minchey. If Minchey comes back I can see him being the backup QB as a redshirt freshman then taking over as a redshirt sophomore. So I think he can start for 3 years at this level which is incredible. I just hope he stays long enough where we get to see him play here. He is a very special talent and I know Stein has a plan for him to take over as a redshirt sophomore. So he will have two years to play baseball undisturbed.
The NCAA is looking to pass a new bylaw where there won't be anymore redshirts.