Commit Roundup: Matt Ponatoski throws for 5 TDs in high-scoring thriller

While the Kentucky Wildcats were sneaking past Toledo 24-16 on Saturday afternoon, the future of the program was putting in their own work on the gridiron.

14 of Kentucky’s 15 class of 2026 high school commits were action over the weekend. WR Dallas Dickerson was the only committed prospect not in action. None of those 14 produced a better individual performance than QB Matt Ponatoski, the prize of Mark Stoops‘ class and the expected future face of the program down the road. His efforts came in a one-point loss, but there was no denying his special talent.

But he wasn’t the only future ‘Cat who had a good week. ATH Jordan Crutchfield, WR Denairius Gray, and ATH Davis McCray all came down with touchdown catches for their respective schools. Dive in below to see how all of Kentucky’s 2026 pledges did over the last few days, but first, a quick shoutout to our sponsor.

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Thank you to today’s sponsor, our friend Andy Luedecke at MyPerfectFranchise. Andy is a huge college sports fan and franchise veteran, having owned multiple franchises and businesses. Using his expertise, he helps others find their American Dream through a very thorough consultation and evaluation process.

If you are wanting to find a way out of corporate America, wanting a side-hustle business, or a way to diversify…..reach out to Andy, as he’s got a ton of knowledge in this world and best of all, his services are 100% free to you – always! After you finish this post, you can learn more or reach Andy at [email protected].

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Kentucky FB commits in action this past weekend

Matt Ponatoski (QB) 6-2, 190 | Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 241 overall, No. 17 QB

• Although it came in a tough 43-42 loss to Mt. Carmel (IL) on the very last play of the game, Moeller’s Matt Ponatoski was special on Saturday. The dual-sport star threw for 287 yards (19-30 passing) with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. His longest pass was a 45-yard completion, and he only took one sack. Ponatoski also ran the ball six times for 54 yards. He looked every bit the part of a four-star recruit. We’ve got a couple of clips below to prove it.

Archbishop Moeller (OH) QB Matt Ponatoski hits his reciever in the back of the end zone for 6️⃣

Ponatoski is a 4-star Kentucky commit

(via @GregSmithRivals)https://t.co/WfU8GqHhTE pic.twitter.com/WsvXnyM0ys

— Rivals High School (@Rivals_HS) August 30, 2025

31-yard TD pass on fourth down by 4-star Kentucky QB commit Matt Ponatoski. A dime on the move. @MoellerFootball ties it up at 21. pic.twitter.com/nI45e17OtE

— Greg Smith (@GregSmithRivals) August 30, 2025

Messiah Tilson (S) 6-2, 165 | Guilford (Rockford, IL)
4-star: No. 323 overall, No. 28 S

• Messiah Tilson and Guilford fell to 0-1 after losing the season-opener on Friday to Belvidere North, 21-13. Stats were not made available.

Jordan Crutchfield (ATH) 6-2, 195 | Vero Beach (Fort Pierce, FL)
4-star: No. 389 overall, No. 15 ATH

• Jordan Crutchfield has Vero Beach off to a 2-0 start thanks to a 28-24 win over F.W. Buchholz on Friday. Crutchfield was credited with three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in the win. His 10-yard touchdown catch came with under a minute left in the game and pushed Vero Beach ahead for good.

Denairius Gray (WR) 6-1, 170 | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Boynton Beach, FL)
3-star: No. 401 overall, No. 62 WR

• Denairius Gray and Chaminade-Madonna Prep moved to 1-1 following Friday’s 28-14 win over McArthur. Gray hauled in just one catch, but it was a 25-yarder that led to a touchdown. His score made it a 21-0 lead right before the half.

Dallas Dickerson (WR) 6-1, 180 | North Oconee (Bogart, GA)
3-star: No. 538 overall, No. 83 WR

• Bye week

Tyreek Jemison (OT) 6-5, 330 | Paulding County (Dallas, GA)
3-star: No. 563 overall, No. 42 OT

• It hasn’t been a great start to the season for Tyreek Jemison and Paulding County, which dropped to 0-3 after Friday’s 49-20 blowout loss to East Paulding. Stats were not made available.

Lincoln Watkins (TE) 6-4, 225 | Port Huron Northern (Port Huron, MI)
3-star: No. 611 overall, No. 36 TE

• In a low-scoring 13-6 win over Thurston, Lincoln Watkins and Port Huron Northern started the season off 1-0. A Hudl highlight clip shows Watkins rising up and over his defender for a very tough and contested 28-yard reception.

Garrett Witherington (DL) 6-4, 290 | Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, AL)
3-star: No. 823 overall, No. 84 DL

• Garrett Witherington and Briarwood Christian fell to 0-2 after Friday’s 27-0 loss to Homewood. Stats were not made available.

Isaiah McMillian (CB) 6-0, 170 | Katy (Katy, TX)
3-star: No. 859 overall, No. 81 CB

• Isaiah McMillian and Katy came up short in Saturday’s season-opener, losing to Dickinson 34-21. Stats were not made available.

Ben Duncum (DL) 6-5, 250 | Lake Travis (Austin, TX)
3-star: No. 900 overall, No. 92 DL

• Ben Duncum and Lake Travis opened the season with a 48-21 win over Martin. With Duncum helping lead the charge on defense, Lake Travis gave up less than 150 yards of offense to Martin. It was 31-0 at halftime.

Davis McCray (ATH) 6-2, 190 | Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, TX)
3-star: No. 926 overall, No. 50 ATH

• Davis McCray and Cornerstone Christian are off to a 1-0 start thanks to a 43-22 shellacking of Dallas Christian on Friday. McCray was credited with two receptions for 52 yards, which included a 40-yard touchdown catch.

Prince Jean (WR) 6-0, 170 | Valdosta (Valdosta, GA)
3-star: No. 949 overall, No. 135 WR

• Prince Jean and Valdosta cruised on Friday in a 52-3 win over Dougherty, keeping its early-season undefeated record alive at 3-0. Jean was credited with two receptions for just three yards.

Cameron Miller (OT) 6-5, 310 | Morton (Hammond, IN)
3-star: No. 970 overall, No. 72 OT

• Cameron Miller and Morton (1-1) came up just short in a 20-19 loss to Chesterton on Friday. Stats were not made available.

Max Mohring (LB) 6-3, 215 | Malvern Prep (Downingtown, PA)
3-star: No. 1,041 overall, No. 88 LB

• Max Mohring and Malvern Prep lost a tough 42-35 rivalry battle to La Salle College on Friday to open the season. Defensive stats were not made available, but we have 36 seconds of Hudl film on Mohring’s performance. The tape shows him breaking up a pass that likely would have been a touchdown, stuffing a running back for a loss of yards, and stopping two runs for minimal gains.

Delvechhio Alston (RB) 6-0, 200 | Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, AL)
3-star: No. 1,221 overall, No. 74 RB

• Delvechhio “Deuce” Alston and Hewitt-Trussville (2-0) made easy work of Gadsden City on Friday in a 56-7 blowout victory. Alston carried the ball nine times for 50 yards, including a 22-yard rush. He also returned a kickoff for 14 yards.

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