Kalen DeBoer and Alabama Crimson Tide get burned while getting cute with four-star two-sport QB prospect with MLB dreams
The Alabama Crimson Tide have been working to add a second four-star quarterback to their 2026 recruiting class, but we now know who won't be joining Jett Thomalla in Kalen DeBoer's backfield. DeBoer and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb dug their feet in as much as they could to pry Thomalla away from Iowa State, […]
The Alabama Crimson Tide have been working to add a second four-star quarterback to their 2026 recruiting class, but we now know who won't be joining Jett Thomalla in Kalen DeBoer's backfield. DeBoer and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb dug their feet in as much as they could to pry Thomalla away from Iowa State, but their pitch to Matt Ponatoski was more complex.
Ponatoski, a baseball star who could be drafted in the MLB Draft this year, was a unique prospect. Chased by Alabama, Oregon, Arkansas, and Kentucky, he required a team to believe he'd stay in school and to have a spot on the baseball team.
The Tide were willing to do that, but Kentucky ultimately pitched a better game to Ponatoski. They earned his commitment this past weekend.
Meanwhile, Alabama has pivoted, reading the tea leaves of Ponatoski's desire to play early to justify passing on becoming an early-round MLB Draft pick. Alabama is hosting four-star Tayden Kaawa shortly after he said "they stand pretty high" after offering him a scholarship.
A dual-threat passer at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds who is rising in recruiting ranks, Kaawa is just now catching the attention from bigger programs. He totaled 3,280 passing yards, 318 rushing yards, and 35 touchdowns last year.
Hawaii has been considered the favorite to land him because of his ties to the offshore state, but that tide may be turning.
Here's what scouts from On3 had to say about Ponatoski at the Elite 11 event earlier this week, rating him as the most accurate passer.
Matt Ponatoski consistently threw catchable balls over the week at the Elite 11 Finals. We thought he was clearly the most accurate over the first two days. Ponatoski was a standout on Day 1, serving up well-placed, timely passes at a high rate. He carried that over into the pro day workout, where he earned the day’s highest score from the Elite 11 staff. The dual-sport star showed sound mechanics and the ability to locate his passes with ease. His showing is made even more impressive by the fact that he spends much of his off-season on baseball rather than quarterback training.
