Pitt receives commitment from graduate transfer tight end Lucas Krull of Florida

In Pitt’s continuing search for tight ends, coach Pat Narduzzi on Monday landed a verbal commitment from Lucas Krull, a graduate transfer from Florida.

Krull (6-foot-6, 257 pounds) was a backup tight end at Florida the past two seasons, totaling nine receptions for 108 yards. He also completed a 15-yard pass on a trick play that led to a touchdown in Florida’s 27-19 victory against LSU in 2018.

He is the second Florida transfer to join the team in the past two seasons. Linebacker Kylan Johnson started this year and earned All-ACC honorable mention.

COMING HOME....... Born in PA. This is the day! #H2P pic.twitter.com/t7u7dbzJY7

— Lucas Krull (@Lucas_Krull_) December 16, 2019

Krull is the fifth transfer tight end Narduzzi has brought into the program, following Chris Clark (UCLA), Matt Flanagan (Rutgers), Nakia Griffin-Stewart (Rutgers) and Will Gragg (Arkansas).

Gragg and Griffin-Stewart, both seniors, will exhaust their eligibility after the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26. They were the only Pitt tight ends to catch passes this season, recording 18 and 17 receptions.

Pitt has lost tight ends Clark, Tyler Sear and Charles Reeves to transfers in recent years.

Krull caught 52 passes for 745 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Shawnee (Kan.) Mill Valley High School in 2015. He will compete for playing time with returning tight ends Grant Carrigan, a redshirt sophomore from Pine-Richland, and Kyi Wright, a freshman from Farrell. Pitt also may add another tight end this week during the early- signing period.

Krull started his collegiate career as a baseball pitcher at Arkansas and Jefferson (Mo.) College. He has thrown a 96-mph fastball and was drafted in the 34^th round by the San Francisco Giants in 2018.