Matt Ponatoski with his mother, Becky, and other family members when he committed to play football at Kentucky. (Joe Danneman/Cincinnati FOX19 Photo)
However, the 6-foot-2 , 200-pound Ponatoski is also a top 60 prospect nationally in baseball in his class and has numerous Major League Baseball scouts monitoring his progress since he will be draft eligible in July. He plays shortstop and pitches.
Not only is he elite in two sports, but he also has a strong faith and family relationships that almost make him seem too good to be true.
“I would certainly say he’s nowhere close to perfect,” Ponatoski’s mother, Becky, said. “He is a great kid. We’re fortunate that he makes good choices and is such a hard worker. We love the opportunities that he has because not everyone has those chances and he’s been put in position to do what he loves.”
Ponatoski has a talented family heavily involved in athletics but he values family time.
“We hang out at my mom’s house on Sundays. He’ll play my grandmother in Scrabble or a board game,” Becky Ponatoski said. “She’s 83 years old and she kicks his butt. He’ll try his darndest to beat her but it hasn’t happened yet. She shows him no mercy at all.”
Dave Berk, a long-time Ohio recruiting analyst/consultant, could see Ponatoski playing two sports for one or maybe two years in college.
“If he becomes the starting quarterback, it will be interesting to see how much football will pull on him to be full-time football,” Berk said. “He’s a special player. He shows the willingness to stay in the pocket until he needs to leave, but he can throw on the run with accuracy. I like his arm strength as the ball comes out of his hand smooth and tight. Has a chance to be really good.”
Becky Ponatoski enjoys watching him play both sports but baseball is less stressful on her.
“Baseball is easier on my nerves. Seeing those guys coming at him in football is definitely stressful,” she said.
5 Responses
A rare person with so much talent & family life which has strengthened his faith. This is a quality person, which is great to see as a future WildCat.
Coach Stein & his staff are laying the foundation for an exciting UK FB program with their vision well beyond just 2026.
Nice article!
Ponatoski is the real deal. Granny's are the bo Jacksons of scrabble. My Granny used to beat me everytime. I would say Grandma you can barely remember my name how do you do it. She would say refuse to lose. I carried that motto with me through life. I hope Ponatoski comes in and shows what he is capable of. The good thing is he doesn't have to come in and compete for the job. He can learn the offense and slowly get himself ready to be the next starting QB. Minchey will be the starter in 2026 and 2027. Ponatoski should get backup minutes in 2027. Then he will take over as the starter in 2028. I just hope he lives it up and trust the process. Stein will make him a NFL QB. He has the best coach in college football at making a good QB a great QB. It's all on him what he loves to do and play more baseball or football. I also played both in high school. I was better at baseball but I loved football so much more. Ponatoski is great at both. Good luck to him and God Bless the Ponatoski family!! BBN.!
Good points TJ, but there is no guarantee Minchey will be the starter in year 2. I think Ponatoski will make a strong push for QB1, with Jake Nawrot waiting in the wings as QB3. I hope (& think) Stein will groom HS recruited QB's rather than relying on portal QB's. I love Minchey and am very excited to watch him play, but IMO, he might be the last starting portal QB we see for a while. Sept. 5th can't come quick enough.
I am really excited to see this kid play both sports. If he excels at both it would make a great story for UK.
The only thing that gives me pause is that after a lifetime of playing with, coaching, and raising great athletes, this kid looks more like he’s going into culinary or engineering school. Haha😉
Only once in a long while will a kid come along with as many qualities as Matt. I remember Dickie Parsons who was our basketball coach at Boyle County. He also taught Biology. Dickie was a two sport player and quality people.