Kradel playing 1 more season at Pitt
BUTLER TWP — The “center” of attention?
Jake Kradel certainly hopes so.
The Butler graduate and University of Pittsburgh offensive lineman has opted to use his final year of football eligibility with the Panthers. He plans to attain his masters in the field of business administration next fall.
“Getting that degree is important. I have to plan for my life after football,” Kradel said.
Of course, he’s hoping to put off that portion of his life for a while yet.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Kradel has already started 38 games at Pitt. Previously a right guard, he moved to center after Week 2 of the 2022 regular season due to an injury sustained by starting center Owen Drexel. Kradel then started at center until the final two games of the regular season.
Drexel returned to the lineup and Kradel moved back to guard. Kradel then played center in the Panthers’ 37-35 Sun Bowl win over UCLA on Friday.
“I love playing center,” Kradel said. “Calling out the protections, identifying the (defensive) front, that’s all part of it. I’m going to do what I can to raise my stock at that position next year. I’ll hit the weight room harder and take advantage of everything Pitt has to offer.
“My ultimate goal has always been to get to the NFL. I’d love to do that as a center. Nothing is handed to you. I’ll have to earn that starting job in camp this year.”
Kradel had no problem relinquishing the center spot back to Drexel when the latter returned to the lineup.
“He’s a sixth-year senior and he deserved to get his position back,” he said.
Now Kradel is aiming to keep it.
The Panthers racked up 447 yards offensively — including 199 on the ground — with Kradel at center in the Sun Bowl. Nick Patti, Kradel’s roommate the past five years, threw for 252 yards and a touchdown in that game.
“I was super excited for him,” Kradel said of Patti. “Nick is a great leader, a competitor, and he enjoyed his time at Pitt and the friendships he’s made here. He has another year of eligibility, but decided to get his degree and move on with his life, start earning some money. I wish him well.”
Patti’s decision may clear the way for Pine-Richland graduate Phil Jurkovec — a transfer from Boston College — to start at quarterback for Pitt next season. Kradel finds it ironic that he may be snapping the football to a former high school rival.
“Phil and I played football against each other from seventh grade through high school,” he said. “His teams always got the best of ours. It’s gonna feel good being on the same side as him for a change.
“This is the last thing I would have expected. He went to Notre Dame (out of high school), I went to Pitt. I thought he might transfer here two years ago when he left Notre Dame, but Kenny (Pickett) was firmly entrenched here at the time. Phil made a smart decision to go to B.C. and I’m thrilled he’ll be finishing his college career with us.
“Hopefully, he and I can help Pitt win another ACC championship,” Kradel added.
The Panthers had injuries and nearly 10 players opt out of the Sun Bowl game. Kradel had no problem with the latter.
“It’s a little crazy, but that’s how college football is now,” he said. “There’s a full month of practice before the bowl game and some guys choose to start training toward the NFL draft then. I can’t blame them for that. Then there’s the transfer portal, enabling some guys to leave before the bowl game.
“Those things present opportunities for other guys. The way we banded together and won that bowl game, with a lot of new faces playing, was a great way to end the season.”
