Jake Kradel

PITTSBURGH — Jake Kradel proved himself to be a prophet.

After Pitt’s football team was picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division last preseason, the Butler graduate and Panthers’ starting right guard said: “We are going to surprise a lot of people.”

Pitt certainly did that, finishing 11-3, winning the Coastal Division and ACC championships and advancing to the Peach Bowl. Kradel wasn’t on the field contributing to those title contests as he suffered a broken leg on the second play of the Panthers’ nationally-televised overtime win over North Carolina on Nov. 11 at Heinz Field.

“It was the second play of the game,” the 6-foot-3, 305-pound rigght guard recalled. “We were working a zone running play to the right. The defensive end trailing the play just rolled up my right leg.

“I tried to walk it off. When I couldn’t feel the leg, I knew it was trouble.”

Sidelined for the last four games of the season, Kradel still enjoyed Pitt’s run to glory. Now he’s cleared to run again himself.

“I’ve been lifting weights all this time, working on my upper body,” he said. “My leg is completely healed now, so I can follow through with more extensive workouts. I’m excited for spring ball, summer workouts, all of that. I’m good to go.”

Kradel has been a steady starter at right guard for the Panthers for three seasons. He still has two years of college football eligibility remaining.

Already graduated with a degree in finance, Kradel is working on a masters in business management. Pitt’s entire starting offensive line is returning next season.

“That is absolutely huge for us,” he said. “We know each other as a unit and we’re only going to get better.”

The line will be blocking for a new quarterback. Kenny Pickett threw for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns last season. He is headed for the NFL draft. Nick Patti replaced Pickett behind center in the Peach Bowl, but a first-half injury cut his night short.

Patti will compete for the starting job next year with Kedon Slovis, a transfer from USC who was PAC-12 Freshman of the Year in 2019, throwing for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns. Slovis has two years of eligibility at Pitt.

“Nick Patti is my roommate and I know him well,” Kradel said. “He will compete hard for the starting job and he’s very capable of leading this team. But Slovis has the credentials as well and he’s fitting in well here.

“Our quarterback situation is in good hands regardless.”

Unexpected home losses to Western Michigan and Miami (Fla.) cost Pitt an undefeated regular season — and much more.

“The first time our players all got together after the season, that was the first thing we talked about,” Kradel said. “We could have been in the college football playoff. We were that close, so, naturally, that’s the goal this year. We won the ACC and that was so much fun..

“The program has to take the next step. Of course, we want to win the ACC title again. We want to contend for the national championship, too.”

Whether Kradel plays at Pitt beyond next season depends on where he figures he stands as an NFL draft candidate in 2023.

“My dream has always been to play at the next level,” he said. “If I feel like I’ve got a viable shot at being drafted, I’ll probably come out. If not, I can always play (at Pitt) for another year. We’ll see where it goes.”