Ohio State tight end Max Klare has embraced blocking as a way to complement his impressive skills as a pass-catcher.
Ohio State tight end Max Klare knows he probably won’t catch 51 passes again this season like he did for Purdue in 2024.
With wide receivers Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss around, the ball will be spread around by quarterback Julian Sayin in the Buckeyes’ offense.
But accumulating stats wasn’t why Klare transferred to Ohio State. The Cincinnati native went to OSU to become a well-rounded tight end. A big part of that is blocking, something he wasn’t asked to do much at Purdue.
“I’ve gotten a lot better,” Klare said. “(Coaches) work me every day, and it’s something I have to keep developing and hope to be really good at one day.”
Catching passes is fun. Doing the grunt work of blocking defensive linemen and linebackers often isn’t. But Klare has no regrets about his transfer.
“I knew what I was getting into,” he said. “The competition is at its peak here, and you’re going to get it every day. It’s been great for me to be able to go through that and grow.”
Klare is a part of a tight end unit that is deeper than any in recent memory for the Buckeyes. Will Kacmarek is regarded as a good blocker. Jelani Thurman has tantalizing potential, and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey regards senior Bennett Christian as the unit’s leader. Bailey even believes that freshman Nate Roberts can contribute.
The tight ends believe they are the best unit on the team. Klare is the headliner, though.
“Max is probably the best route runner I've ever seen for a tight end,” Christian said. “His breaks are so sharp. I've learned a lot from him, just having a plan going into a route.”
A year ago, Klare had more than double the catches of the next-leading Boilermaker pass-catcher.
“He's certainly super athletic, and his skill set is unique,” Bailey said. “He's got good spatial awareness, really good hands and quickness.”
Buy Ohio State posters, books, gear from CFP title win
Klare said he has been developing chemistry with Sayin, who was named the starter on Aug. 18.
“He throws a really good ball, one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Klare said. “The way it spins out of his hand and the way it comes softly into your hands, it’s just a different feel.”
Klare figures to be a nice crutch for Sayin if his wide receivers are covered. But Klare also wants to show he can be a force as a blocker in the run game. His willingness to embrace that impresses Bailey.
“That’s really why he came to Ohio State – to get uncomfortable,” Bailey said. “That’s when you develop the most.
“The reason you come here is to be the best. Not to be the best route-running tight end or to be the best run-blocking tight end. It’s to be the best tight end in the country, period. That's the expectation. That's why he came here – to be developed and to be the best tight end in the country.”
When Klare entered the transfer portal, Texas was among the teams he considered. He even took a visit to Austin.
Now he’ll be facing the No. 1 Longhorns on Aug. 30 in the much-anticipated season opener.
“It’s awesome,” Klare said. “You couldn’t ask for a better game to start off with. I’m excited to get out there and get the ball rolling.”
Purdue was 1-11 last year and winless in the Big Ten, including a 45-0 loss at Ohio State. Now Klare will be wearing the scarlet and gray when he goes down the tunnel before the game.
“I’ve thought about it,” Klare said. “I’ve envisioned it, so it’s going to be really cool. Obviously, I’m coming out of a different tunnel this time, so that’s going to feel a lot better.”
Ohio State football beat writer Bill Rabinowitz can be reached at [email protected] or on bluesky at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football TE Max Klare eager to show blocking skills in 2025
Category: General Sports
