Pitt’s Jake Kradel, Brandon George eager for Sun Bowl, but they respect teammates who choose to skip game
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EL PASO, Texas — Jake Kradel grew up in Butler, probably never dreaming he’d have two attractive career choices within reach of his massive hands before he turned 24.
NFL or MBA?
The former offers the eventual possibility of a nice paycheck. Draftcountdown.com ranks Kradel among the top 30 guards potentially available in the 2023 draft.
The latter does, too, but would bring him back to Pitt in 2023 for his sixth season, further his education and, perhaps, better prepare him for the rigors of pro football.
Kradel said Tuesday after the second day of Sun Bowl practice in El Paso that he won’t choose — or even hint at his decision — until after Pitt plays UCLA on Friday.
Foremost on his mind is finishing this season strong against the Bruins (9-3), the 18th-ranked team in the nation.
Kradel (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) showed up with his Pitt teammates — at the base of what is known as the tail end of the Rocky Mountains — as a versatile lineman who can play center and guard. This week, he’s a center, but he’s quick to emphasize, “Wherever coach wants me on Friday is where I’ll play.”
How does a smart, team-oriented player such as Kradel wrap his head around the new wave of college football: bowl opt-outs and players transferring before the last game? Pitt has a total of seven among its starters and top reserves.
“It’s a little crazy,” he said. “We were here (in 2018), and no one opted out. I think we might have had one guy opt out with an injury or something.
“Now, everyone’s opting out. That’s just the landscape of college football and the transfer portal, NFL, chasing their dreams. I respect all decisions.”
Why did Kradel decide to remain with the team when he could have been preparing for his own future?
“Play one more game and see what my future holds. I’m excited for this game,” he said.
For Pitt middle linebacker Brandon George, an injury robbed him of all but three games this season. So he believes it’s way past time to put on the pads again. Why wait for 2023?
Brandon George, preparing to replace SirVocea Dennis at middle linebacker for Pitt. pic.twitter.com/hEDcxJFFYs
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) December 28, 2022
George, who will replace All-ACC linebacker SirVocea Dennis in the bowl game, said he was eagerly anticipating this opportunity throughout his recovery. He wanted to return for the regular-season finale at Miami, but waiting for the bowl and keeping his game total under five preserves his redshirt.
“I worked hard to come back,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to playing. You can put me in a paper bag, and I’ll play.”
George, who will call defensive signals Friday along with linebacker Shayne Simon, believes opting out of a bowl game is a personal decision that doesn’t need to be judged by others.
“That’s for each individual to decide,” he said. “I completely understand when people opt out of bowl games because that’s their money they’re playing for. (By) the same token, for everybody who chooses to play, it’s one last ride with all the guys who’ve been with you for four, five, six years even.
“It’s really exciting that they chose to come back, and it’s really exciting for the guys who chose to opt out to see them get drafted.”
Coach Pat Narduzzi said the portal and opt-outs are merely two more elements college coaches and administrators must learn how to handle.
“You deal with it,” he said. “It’s life nowadays, the twists and turns that you have. I’m sure things will eventually change. I don’t think the whole system right now is sustainable with what we’re doing.”
But he also said it’s difficult to prevent opt-outs.
“Kids are getting advice from a lot of different sources. A lot of people are telling them it’s too risky to go play. What you did all year is all you need.”
That’s fine, Narduzzi said, but it’s his job to ensure there are enough replacements to keep the Panthers competitive. Whether there are five or zero opt-outs, Pitt must find a way to control UCLA’s high-powered offense that ranks third in the nation in total offense (507.8 yards per game).
“To me, it’s the next man up,” Narduzzi said. “Our kids are excited. We had a lot of energy out here (Tuesday at practice). Our guys are ready to go. It’s a one-game season right now. We get an early look at some guys for next year, see where our weaknesses are, where our strengths are. Our guys will go out and play their tails off.
“We have a lot of good football players. We’ve recruited well. You get opt-outs when you recruited well. Those things happen. It’s a good problem, I guess.”