Ohio State tight end Max Klare embraces blocking to complement pass-catching skills
Ohio State tight end Max Klare embraces blocking to complement pass-catching skills
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.
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.”
