Matt Ponatoski signing with Wildcats is Will Stein’s first major recruiting win at UK

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Kentucky football secured its first major recruiting victory under Will Stein on National Signing Day, as 4-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski officially signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday.

Ponatoski, who originally planned to wait until February to sign and commit to playing both football and baseball at Kentucky, accelerated his timeline following a crazy week for the program with Mark Stoops being fired after 13 seasons and the swift hiring of former Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein as the new head coach.

Committed to Kentucky since July, Ponatoski had sparked concern among fans and analysts who feared his elite baseball profile, one that could make him a high MLB Draft pick, might prevent him from ever arriving in Lexington.

Instead, those worries have eased, as Ponatoski appears ready to join both Stein’s football program and Nick Mingione’s baseball program, solidifying Kentucky’s multi-sport future in a big way.

A 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback from Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller, Ponatoski has been regarded as one of the top dual-sport athletes in the 2026 class. His decision also carries an interesting twist: Oregon, led offensively by Stein at the time, was among Ponatoski’s finalists.

Now, the two unite in Lexington, giving Kentucky a quarterback–coach pairing with preexisting trust and familiarity.

Ponatoski’s signing marks a pivotal early win for Stein and a major step forward for Kentucky’s long-term quarterback stability.

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