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Max Klare joins Ohio State football: What led the tight end to transfer from Purdue
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- Max Klare joins Ohio State football: What led the tight end to transfer from Purdue
Max Klare was the centerpiece of Purdue 's offense last season.
But it figures he will have a more reduced role as a receiver after transferring to Ohio State this year.
The Buckeyes maintain a deep cast of receiving talent and have rarely leaned on a tight end to catch as many passes as the 51 receptions Klare logged with the Boilermakers.
Nov 16, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers tight end Max Klare (86) catches a pass during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
The prospect did not deter Klare, though. He saw the move as a chance to evolve into a more well-rounded tight end with two seasons of eligibility left.
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"You want to be in an environment that is going to push you in all aspects of the game," Klare said. "It's not all just about pass catching."
Klare, who had more receptions than all but two tight ends in the Big Ten in 2024, pointed to blocking as an area for further growth.
"That's something I want to keep developing," he said. "Going against these guys every day is going to make you better. I have a vision of where I want to be as a tight end, and I think this place gives me the best opportunity to do that."
Nearly two weeks through spring practice at Ohio State , Klare has fit in with the Buckeyes , making a swift acclimation.
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"Probably the most impressive thing is how seamless the transition has been to our unit," tight ends coach Keenan Bailey said. "On the field, he's playing well. We knew he'd play well. But buying into the culture of being an Ohio State tight end, it comes with certain traits of being a tough guy, and he's embodied that."
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Even if Klare sees fewer targets come the fall, his pass catching should still bolster Ohio State, helping to replace Gee Scott Jr., who led the Buckeyes' tight ends with 27 catches last season.
It was Klare's skillset as a receiver that stood out to Bailey as he looked at options in the transfer portal last December, seeing someone who could pair well with their returning veterans, a core led by Will Kacmarek, Bennett Christian and Jelani Thurman.
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"He showed some things on film that complement what we had in the room," Bailey said, "and really make us a pretty whole unit."
Bailey mentioned Klare has a feel for space, a trait that has allowed him to stretch the field as a receiver. His 51 catches last season resulted in 685 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 13 yards for each grab.
"Definitely as a receiver, he's pretty polished," Bailey said.
As a former quarterback who only switched positions to tight end as a junior at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati , he carries a greater familiarity with the passing game, a savviness for managing coverages.
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"I try to understand the whole play, the whole concept, from a very deep level," Klare said, "find those holes in the defense and be on the same page with the quarterback."
The Buckeyes' interest in Klare began with a push from their safeties.
Following a win over Purdue in November, both Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom encouraged Bailey to take a look at Klare if he entered the portal.
"Every week, I just ask them about the opposing tight ends," Bailey said, "and they were super high on Max."
Five days after Purdue fired coach Ryan Walters, Klare entered the portal, putting him on their radar.
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"Lathan and Caleb were, like, 'See, that's the guy,'" Bailey said.
It was feedback similar to the previous year when the Buckeyes recruited Kacmarek as a transfer from Ohio . Kacmarek had been teammates with Sam Wiglusz , a former walk-on receiver at Ohio State who pushed for him.
Klare did not fly under the radar like Kacmarek. Multiple recruiting services ranked him as the top available tight end.
But he appreciated the recognition from Downs and Ransom.
"They're just great people," he said.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky , Instagram and X for more.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football: Max Klare on decision to transfer from Purdue
