Terrapin Station
Fansided

Maryland Football: Jake Kradel announces top seven schools

By Chris Bengel

Sep 17, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Maryland Terrapins take the field led by Maryland Terrapins head coach DJ Durkin before the first quarter of a football game against the Central Florida Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Maryland Terrapins take the field led by Maryland Terrapins head coach DJ Durkin before the first quarter of a football game against the Central Florida Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Jake Kradel is one of the top offensive guards in the state of Pennsylvania.

On Thursday evening, the Butler Area guard announced his top seven schools. Maryland made the cut along with Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.

Kradel is set to make his collegiate decision on June 10.

The Butler native is rated No. 947 in 247Sports’ Composite rankings. Kradel is also ranked as the No. 43 offensive guard in the country and the 23rd-best player in the Keystone State.

Ohio State has 10 Crystal Ball predictions in their favor for Kradel’s services.

Maryland have attacked the offensive line in the 2018 class. D.J. Durkin and his staff already has secured a pledge from DeMatha (Md.) offensive guard Evan Gregory.

Gregory committed to the Terrapins back on April 22.

Maryland is pursuing several high-profile local offensive linemen in the 2018 class. They have offered the likes of Jaelyn Duncan (St. Frances Academy), Aidan Rafferty (Gonzaga), Rasheed Walker (North Point).

Duncan and Walker are both ranked in the top seven in terms of players in the state of Maryland.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Maryland is heavily recruiting the offensive line. Derwin Gray, Brendan Moore, and Damian Prince will all be juniors in 2017, so Durkin will have to continue to restock the cupboard.

In the 2017 recruiting class, the Terps brought in Johnny Jordan (Gonzaga), Jordan McNair (McDonogh School), and Marcus Minor (DeMatha). All three were extremely highly rated prospects at their respective offensive line positions.

Next: Maryland Lacrosse: Maryland aims to repeat Big Ten Tournament crown

It’s definitely going to be an uphill battle over the next month for Kradel’s services. However, Maryland is going to have to keep recruiting the offensive line if they want to become a force in the Big Ten one day.

Home/Maryland Football