Kradel verbally commits to Pitt
BUTLER TWP — Jake Kradel knows where he will be playing his college football.
He just doesn't know what position.
The Butler junior verbally committed to the University of Pittsburgh on Tuesday, the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Golden Tornado lineman ending a long recruiting odyssey.
“He wound up with 25 offers from major schools,” Butler coach Rob Densmore said. “This was all about Jake. He earned this for himself. It was all him.”
The Panthers like Kradel as a center or guard on offense, and as a tackle on defense.
“I think they're going to try me on defense first,” Kradel said. “It's easier to move from defense over to offense than the other way around.
“I'll play wherever I can help the team, whatever gets me on the field first. I just want to play football.”
Densmore said Kradel “doesn't have the length college teams like” to play offensive tackle.
“But he's so explosive off the ball ... tremendous footwork,” the Butler coach said. “He can get to a linebacker real quick.”
Kradel's final selections included Wisconsin, Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Iowa and West Virginia, along with Pitt.
He plans to study business or marketing in college.
“I feel blessed for this opportunity to play college football so closer to home,” Kradel said. “My family and friends can come watch me play.
“Ultimately, the chance to play major college ball so close to my hometown was something I couldn't pass up.”
Kradel said he plans to sign as part of college football's new early signing period in December.
“As soon as possible,” he said. “There will be no backing out. My mind is made up.
“My last two visits were to Wisconsin and Iowa. I told them both I wasn't coming, that I made my decision.”
Densmore coached the son of Pitt line coach John Peterson during his assistant coaching years at Pine-Richland. He said the relationship formed between Kradel, Pitt head coasch Pat Narduzzi and Peterson “is a very solid one.”
“Pitt is a good fit for him,” Densmore added. “Jake handled this process very well. He took his time, weighed all the options ... It's his life and he made the decision that's best for him.”
Kradel becomes the first Butler football player to receive a major Division I scholarship since linebacker Tyrell Sales went to Penn State in 2004. Nate Hartung, a center, walked on at Brigham Young in 2008.
Densmore praised Kradel as a vocal leader of the Butler football program going into his senior season.
“We had 64 players show up for our spring mini-camp and Jake's a big reason for that, along with Jacob Tilko,” the coach said. “Those two guys have stepped up as leaders.
“Jake is very vocal. He walks through the halls at school, talks to kids, asks 'Why aren't you playing?' And his work ethic runs off on other guys.
“I couldn't be happier for him. He truly deserves this,” Densmore added.
