Carmel junior defensive end Kristian Chadick’s first two sacks of the season came at an interesting time.
Between visits to Penn State and Illinois on game days, Chadick’s performance during the Corsairs’ loss to Marist last week seems to reflect a player on the rise.
“That’s the perfect example of me being in the zone during a game where I feel like I was really making my presence known,” he said.
Colleges coaches are getting to know Chadick too. His first Division I offer from Iowa in late spring seemed to open the floodgates in his recruiting. He has added offers from Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, North Dakota State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers and Vanderbilt, he’ll travel to Kentucky on Saturday and he has a trip scheduled to defending national champion Indiana, among others.
“It feels great to have a wide variety of places to choose from,” Chadick said. “I don’t have a specific timeline for choosing, but if I find the right school, I’ll know it.”
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Chadick, who has 37 tackles and two pass breakups for the Corsairs (2-5) this season, already knows he’s not a finished product.
“There are always areas that you can improve in, and that’s one thing I constantly try to keep in mind,” he said. “I can definitely improve the way I wrap up tackles and get a grip on ball carriers. You always want to finish the job.”
But Carmel coach Jason McKie, who had run-ins with defensive ends when he played fullback for the Chicago Bears, knows the stats don’t tell the full story about Chadick.
“He may not have the gaudy sack totals, but his being so consistent in the way he attacks really stands out,” McKie said. “He’s constantly being a disruptor and getting into the backfield. He does a really good job utilizing his arm reach and length.
“I’ve known him since middle school, and he’s always had a really good work ethic. What we see are the same things that make him attractive to colleges.”
Chadick, who had 28 tackles with 10 for loss and seven sacks in his first season as a starter in 2025, noted that he has made a concerted effort to take advantage of his impressive reach.
“I’m attacking a little bit more, trying to get into those gaps right on the snap,” he said. “I definitely try to get a good punch in right from the get-go and use my arm extension to be the aggressor — and doing that while also staying gap-sound.”
Playing on the defensive line with Chadick, Carmel junior Noah Breckenridge sometimes doesn’t realize Chadick’s impact until he watches film. But Chadick’s presence is definitely felt in the flow of the action.
“The main thing about him is that he’s really long,” Breckenridge said. “The running back can be like 4 yards away from him, and he’ll still get to him. The first aspect of our defense is to stop the run, which involves reading our keys. His key is the running back, and it always seems like he’s in the backfield.
“He’s someone you can count on to make a play when we need it.”
Strength is an important part of that for Chadick, who was more committed to the weight room in the offseason. He has added 30 pounds since his freshman year, and McKie said he wouldn’t be surprised if Chadick weighs more than 250 next season.
“I can tell a big difference this year in how I can use my strength,” Chadick said. “I felt like that was something I wanted to prove in the offseason, getting a lot stronger. Getting off blocks is easier this year because I can get linemen off me immediately.”
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Chadick also has more responsibility this season. But he appears to be well prepared to handle it.
“As one of the older guys, I have to be accountable for my actions on and off the field,” he said. “There is pressure that does occur in my mind, but as long as I get to play, I’m happy, and at the end of the day, I just need to do my job.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.