Dan Lanning attempts Hail Mary by offering two-sport star QB prospect who has MLB future in sights

The Ohio Gatorade Player of the year posted crazy numbers in 2024, reaching 4,000 passing yards and 56 scores to only three interceptions. However, the Buckeyes aren't heavily recruiting him. Still, Ponatoski has tried to drum up the interest in him.

“I have recently been in contact with Wake Forest, Oklahoma, and Alabama and will have to see how those relationships start to build and see if I want to get to those places,” Ponatoski said. He just finished a spring break baseball tournament in Las Vegas. “But with a busy summer don’t really have any set plans. Might get back to some of the places I’ve already been too for unofficials as well.”

Ranked as the nation's 16th-best MLB prospect, Ponatoski is the state's top overall option for the 2026 draft. He's a shortstop and pitcher.

"What makes him great on the football field translates in ways on the baseball field you just don't see in a lot of high school players," said Kyle Weldon, Prep Baseball's Ohio Scouting Director.

"He's got a quick processor, his in-game decision-making is elite. Matt has tools that make him one of the best in the country, most notably the arm strength and the hit tool. And he wins. I think profile does a lot for his stock and has generated a lot of interest in him."

This is a desperation play by Lanning to pursue someone that most programs have decided is not a priority because of the looming MLB threat. While it worked for Oklahoma to chase after Kyler Murray, that was an exceedingly rare time when it did.

We'll see how the talented athlete handles his senior season and if he shows a proclivity to attend college or go straight to the pros.