BREAKING: Jake Kradel breaks down his Pitt commitment

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Pitt received its fourth commitment of the 2018 recruiting class on Tuesday evening as Butler (Pa.) two-way lineman Jake Kradel chose the Panthers over offers from the likes of Ohio State, Wisconsin, Maryland, UCLA, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and a slew of other Power Five offers. The local prospect decided to stay in western Pennsylvania and play for the hometown team after much deliberation. Kradel committed to Pitt during a visit to campus on Tuesday morning.

“We were kind of just sitting there talking. Coach Narduzzi and I were talking about fun stuff and a bunch of different little things, like when I’m going to commit and my top schools and everything. I kind of had an idea then,” Kradel said. “He wasn’t pressuring me or anything, he’s just a good person and I thought about playing for him and playing there. I said ‘I’m shutting it down and I’m coming. I’m committing.’ [Narduzzi] jumped up and gave me a big hug and that’s how it all went down.”

Although Kradel had over two dozen offers to choose from, the benefits of staying at home and playing for the hometown team began to grow on the Butler (Pa.) native over time. The presentation during Tuesday’s visit sealed the deal after the idea had begun to ferment in Kradel’s mind over Memorial Day weekend.

“I kind of had an idea [going into the visit]. Last night, I was just talking to the coaches and coach Pete a little bit, nothing big or anything. I really hadn’t seen too much in-depth of the campus until today. I had seen a bit of it, just being from around here, but I went and saw it today in-depth and sat down with the academic advisors and their life after football guys,” Kradel said. “It really blew me away and I just loved everything they had to say. I liked it and my mom liked it, so it was just perfect.”

The appeal of staying around loved ones and those close to him was tantalizing for the 6-foot-4, 270-pound lineman, as was his relationship with the coaching staff. The coaches at Pitt had done more to build close bonds with Kradel than any of the competition coming after the WPIAL standout.

“I think just being close to home and being around my family and friends and everything. Also, feeling comfortable with the coaches – I just felt kind of at home there,” Kradel said. “I love the campus and I love what coach Narduzzi is doing with the program and it felt right. It felt like a great fit.

“I would say I’m tightest with coach Pete (John Peterson) for sure. I talk with coach Pete a lot and he’s come to my school plenty before. I talked to him a lot more, but I would say coach Narduzzi and I have a great relationship as well. I enjoy talking to him and what he had to say. I’m very comfortable with that coaching staff. I’ll be back down there on Sunday (June 4th) to work out with the coaches.”

While Kradel’s recruitment is resolved, his eventual positional fit at the next level is not yet decided. Kradel could line up on either side of the line for the Pitt Panthers in college, despite being listed as an offensive lineman on Rivals.com.

“Not really. It’s kind of up in the air still. Coach Narduzzi asked me again today what I think and I told him ‘Honestly, I’ll play anywhere. Whatever is going to get me on the field the fastest and help the team, that’s what I’ll do.’ But I feel like it’s going to be defense there, just with the depth and everything, but it could be offense,” Kradel explained. “I’ll just play wherever.”

A two-way lineman at the high school level, Kradel will be well-prepared to fill either role that Pitt could ask him to play in college. He’ll have the physical profile and skill-set necessary to succeed as a defensive stalwart or interior offensive lineman.

“I’m very athletic, I would say. I can play either side of the ball. I’m tough and I’ve got that mean streak in me. I’ve got a good football IQ. I’m really football smart in that case,” Kradel said. “I’m also just a good person I think. I’m really humble and down to earth, I’m not too cocky. I think I want to major in something like business or marketing, but I’m honestly not dead-set on that.”

With his recruitment wrapped up and no more plans to visit any school besides Pittsburgh, Kradel has turned his plans towards bringing fellow WPIAL prospects into the fold to join Pitt’s growing 2018 recruiting class.

“Oh, for sure. I’m trying to get the best kids around. Definitely the WPIAL kids, that would be awesome to get a couple of the big WPIAL boys and everything. I would definitely say Blake [Zubovic] and Devin [Danielson], I’d like to get those two boys down,” Kradel said. “I know Noah is working on Devin pretty hard. I’ve been texting Blake a little bit trying to get him. Those two definitely and then [Marcus] Hooker would be a good fit down here too, I’d say.”