Pitt’s Future Long Snapper

The commitment of kicker Alex Kessman may have surprised many people but not Conrad Brake.

That’s because Brake and Kessman decided awhile ago that they’d eventually be roommates at Pitt.

Back in August, Brake accepted an offer from Pitt to be a walk-on in 2016. Since then, Brake and Kessman started forming a friendship.  Brake was happy when the news today became official.

“I was excited because I’ve been waiting for this day for awhile”, said Brake. “I was 100% certain Alex wanted to come to Pitt. We have been planning to go to Pitt together since their camp in July.”

So how did these two become so close considering Brake is from New York and Kessman is from Michigan?

“Alex and I became friends through our coach Adam Tanalski (Hammer Kicking Academy) and we’ve been best friends for a few years now. Rooming together has always been something we’d do if we ended up going to the same college together”, said Brake.

Brake tells me that his family is from Pittsburgh and he’s been a life long Steeler fan.

Like Kessman, Brake will be a preferred walk-on in 2016 and will go on scholarship with Pitt starting in 2017.

In the end, Brake decided on Pitt because he thinks Narduzzi has something special going and he wanted to be part of it.

“The program is making great strides under Coach Narduzzi. He’s brought a whole new life to the program and the way Pitt is viewed.”

Kessman and Brake, remember the names because starting in 2017, they’ll be a big part of Pitt’s special teams unit.