Max Klare, Will Kacmarek Form Elite Duo in Deep Ohio State Tight End Room 

Blocking and receiving are the two skills every tight end must balance to become a complete player.

But in a tight end room as deep as Ohio State’s, sometimes excelling in just one area — whether blocking or receiving — can be enough to make an impact.

Max Klare and Will Kacmarek headline what many view as one of the nation’s deepest and most talented tight end units, with Ohio State aiming to combine their respective strengths as a receiver and as a blocker.

Last season with Purdue, Klare recorded 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns, transferring with the goal of making an impact on a bigger stage.

Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey had high praise for Klare Wednesday, describing the former Boilermaker as one of the nation’s premier receiving tight ends and expressing his goal of developing him into one of the most complete players at the position.

“We had arguably the best receiving tight end in the country, could have gone anywhere, and he

came here,” Bailey said. “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, to be the best tight end in the country, period. That’s the expectation, so that’s why he came here to be developed.” 

Klare and Kacmarek spent fall camp living together, exchanging advice and leveraging each other’s strengths to address the weaknesses in their games.

“We were roommates during fall camp and that was a main focus for us to kind of learn from each other,” Kacmarek said. “(Klare) is more of a receiving type of player. So he had some tips for me and then obviously I had tips for him because for offense we utilize both (blocking and receiving).” 

Bailey also believes Kacmarek is the best in the nation at his particular skill.

Kacmarek, a former Ohio University transfer, was praised by his tight ends coach as the best blocking tight end in the country, although Bailey feels his most significant development has occurred off the field.

“I think you know what we saw this summer was his leadership. He was a guy who came in here and didn’t say much, but he set the tone with how rugged he plays,” Bailey said. “Every snap this guy goes 4 to 6, A to B. He’s really grown as a leader, definitely as a receiver and a route runner,” Bailey said. “I’m super excited to see what’s up for Kacmarek.” 

Klare agreed, noting that Kacmarek thrives as a blocker. The native of Guilford, Ind. added that he has worked on incorporating the finer points of blocking that Kacmarek does well, such as hand placement and footwork.

“I think Will is a tremendous blocker. Really throws his body around in there and he’s a very physical dude,” Klare said. “So he’s able to he’s able to base block (defensive ends) and I’ve learned a lot from him, just like his hand placement and the way he runs his feet after contact.” 

The two have perfectly embodied the “iron sharpens iron” mentality throughout fall camp.

Klare highlighted the value of learning from his fellow tight ends, expressing the belief that everyone in the room has both lessons to share and insights to gain.

“There’s always things you learn from everyone in the room that I can’t do and then they’ll learn something from me that I can do that they’re trying to work on as well. So, it’s been good,” Klare said. 

Klare and Kacmarek are just the tip of the iceberg in Ohio State’s ultra-deep tight end room. 

Redshirt junior Bennett Christian and redshirt sophomore tight end Jelani Thurman are also slated to earn time rotating in. 

Christian, now in his fourth year with the program, has emerged as the tight end room’s primary leader this offseason, recognizing the need to step up and fill the void left by former Buckeye and current New England Patriots tight end Gee Scott Jr.

“He’s grown so much and he’s such a veteran guy. He’s been through some trials here and he’ll be the first one to say that,” Bailey said. “I think that strengthens you, right? He was out for a year practicing against the best and that really took his development to the next level. He had an awesome fall camp. He’s another guy that can be the leader of my unit. He’s been in that room the longest.” 

Christian remains the lone player to haul in a touchdown pass from new starting quarterback Julian Sayin, turning a 55-yard connection into a score against Western Michigan last season.

Thurman, on the other hand, can create major mismatches for Ohio State with his 6-6, 250 pound frame. 

In 2024-25, Thurman played in all 16 games for the Buckeyes racking up four receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown. 

With four to five players in Bailey’s room capable of contributing, head coach Ryan Day said this tight end group is “probably the deepest we’ve had,” during a press conference on Aug. 18. 

Bailey conveyed a similar message and said he has great confidence in his room, trusting multiple players in the rotation and calling it one of the best tight end groups he’s coached because of their depth and versatility.

“You just look at the room. We’ve got guys that have played in big moments, a lot of them, Bailey said. “I don’t want to put an exact number on it, but there’s a handful of guys that I could feel very comfortable just going out and playing the game with right now.”