Matt Ponatoski remains committed but will not sign with Kentucky on NSD

by: Adam Luckett5 hours agoadamluckettksr

Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller quarterback Matt Ponatoski has been the jewel of Kentucky’s small 2026 recruiting class since July. However, the football program in Lexington will not be receiving a fake fax from the top-250 recruit on Wednesday.

Ponatoski remains committed to UK as the program undergoes a coaching change, but the four-star quarterback is waiting to the late signing period in February to make it official.

“I appreciate all that he has done for me and my family during the recruiting process and I’m looking forward to what the school does as far as a new head coach,” Ponatoski told Rivals’ Greg Smith. “I was never going to sign next week because I’m not going to school early, signing in February.”

Matt Ponatoski has a huge decision to make after baseball season. The two-way star at Moeller could be a first-round draft pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Ponatoski will have to decide if he wants to continue playing football at Kentucky or if he wants to start a minor league baseball journey this upcoming summer. Regardless, the class of 2026 recruit is about to make some real money.

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The head coach search could play a role in Ponatoski’s final decision one way or another. When his commitment occurred, the battle was a two-team race between Kentucky and Oregon. Will Stein was his lead recruiter. Stein has immediately emerged as a serious contender in this search.

“I have a great relationship with Coach Stein,” Ponatoski told Rivals. “I don’t really know who are the candidates. I know coach Stein has a connection to Kentucky and Louisville. That would be cool because I did build a relationship with him.”

The quarterback told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong that he remain firm in his commitment but no final decision will be made on his future until later in the calendar. Kentucky will not officially add the blue-chip quarterback during the early signing period this week.

Player	Position	High School	Ranking
Matt Ponatoski	QB (6-2, 190)	Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller	4-star (No. 226 overall)
Messiah Tilson	S (6-2, 165)	Rockford (Ill.) Guilford	4-star (No. 346 overall)
Denairius Gray	WR (6-1, 170)	Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna	High 3-star (No. 522 overall)
Dallas Dickerson	WR (6-1, 180)	Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee	High 3-star (No. 588 overall)
Lincoln Watkins	TE (6-4, 225)	Port Huron (Mich.) Northern	3-star (No. 608 overall)
Ben Duncum	DL (6-5, 250)	Austin (Texas) Lake Travis	3-star (No. 746 overall)
Garrett Witherington	DL (6-4, 290)	Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian	3-star (No. 901 overall)
Isaiah McMillian	CB (6-0, 170)	Katy (Texas) High	3-star (No. 937 overall)
Justyn Hartley	LB/EDGE (6-2, 215)	Hoover (Ala.) High	3-star (No. 946 overall)
Prince Jean	WR (6-0, 170)	Valdosta (Ga) High	3-star (No. 1,042 overall)
Cameron Miller	T (6-5, 310)	Hammond (Ind.) Morton	3-star (No. 1,065) overall)
Davis McCray	WR (6-2, 190)	San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian	3-star (No. 1,285 overall)
Delvecchio “Deuce” Alston II	RB (6-0, 200)	Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville	3-star (No. 1,400 overall)