​The Cincinnati Reds came calling, but Matt Ponatoski is choosing the Bluegrass, and Kentucky football may have landed its new QB2.The highly touted dual-sport standout is reportedly done weighing his options. After being selected by the Reds in the 18th round of the 2026 MLB Draft, the four-star signee has officially enrolled at the University of Kentucky. He was hoping to go on day 1, so the drop to nearly undrafted meant he would likely enroll at Kentucky to try to up his stock. Ponatoski will reportedly report to fall football camp and will also suit up for the Kentucky baseball team next season.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor Big Blue Nation, this is a massive recruiting victory. It ensures one of the most intriguing athletes in the 2026 class is bringing his talents to Lexington, adding elite depth to a quarterback room that is suddenly brimming with storylines.If you want to know what kind of quarterback Ponatoski is, just look at his baseball pedigree. As a former Ohio Player of the Year shortstop/RHP, he brings a unique, athletic skill set to the gridiron.According to 247 Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins, who evaluated Ponatoski as a 4-star recruit and an Elite 11 finalist, the freshman is a “stocky pocket passer with eye-popping production that brings accuracy and intelligence to the position.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementInterestingly, Ivins notes that Ponatoski reminds evaluators of former Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary. I personally loved Devin Leary. I thought he was a complete mismatch with the system that Mark Stoops wanted to run.When Leary was allowed to get up and diagnose things at the line and go quickly, he excelled. Against the Vols, Leary completed 28 of 39 passes for 372 yards and 2 TDs.Was Leary great? No, he struggled at times. But man, had he been in a really fast system with the Cats, and the receivers could have held on to the ball, I believe we could have seen something special.Like Leary, Ponatoski can throw with pace and touch, gets the ball out incredibly fast, and operates with a high tempo. He won’t have to worry about the mismatch with Stoops, as Stein is someone who likes going fast.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBecause of his middle-infield background, he is perfectly comfortable dropping his arm slot to throw around defenders and delivering off-balance dimes, something that is likely to happen in the SEC. While he might not be a pure dual-threat runner, his quick setup, elite decision-making, and excellent turnover ratio make him a tailor-made fit for Will Stein.And that’s important because he could play a pivotal role.So, where does a freshman with an Elite 11 pedigree fit into the Wildcats’ current plans?Let’s be clear: Kenny Minchey is the undisputed QB1. It is his team to run, and it should be. He has looked great all Spring long. But behind Minchey, the race for the primary backup spot is completely wide open.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFall