When tight end Max Klare entered the transfer portal from Purdue on Dec. 6, 2024, he did so as one of the nation’s top 20 transfers and the No. 1 tight end on the market.
While his decision to land at Ohio State was viewed as a seamless fit by most after the departure of starting tight end Gee Scott Jr., Klare’s transition has been anything but simple for the junior, yet it’s a process filled with challenges he has fully embraced.
When he arrived at Ohio State, many expected the junior to hit the ground running and dominate immediately, and while he flashed that potential at times in his first season with the Buckeyes, the transition still required an adjustment period.
“I knew what I was getting into,” Klare said. “The competition’s at its peak here and you’re going to get it every day. So it’s great for me to be able to go through that and grow here for sure.”
In his two seasons at Purdue, Klare was very productive, catching 73 passes for 881 yards and four touchdowns, including a sophomore campaign where he brought in 51 receptions for 685 yards.
Once he reached spring and fall practice at Ohio State, Klare noticed everything was sped up, noting he could immediately see and feel the difference in game speed with the Buckeyes compared to his time at Purdue.
Despite facing the difficult challenge of Ohio State’s top-ranked defense on a daily basis, Klare said that the constant battles in practice have accelerated his development and helped him adjust to the heightened speed and physicality of the Buckeyes.
“I realized pretty early it was definitely going to be tough playing against those guys every day,” Klare said. “But, iron sharpens iron, so it’s fun to have those guys.”
Klare was quiet early on, catching just six passes for 74 yards through his first four games, but burst onto the field for the Buckeyes with a five-catch, 63-yard performance against Minnesota in Week 5.
In the week following the 42-3 win over the Golden Gophers, Klare expressed confidence in his growth and credited the Ohio State coaching staff and tight end room for helping him make the adjustment to the Buckeyes’ faster, more physical style of play.
“I think I’ve improved a lot,” Klare said. “Coach Keenan (Bailey), Coach (Tim) Hinton, Coach Wendy (Laurent), working on my blocking every day, working on my route running. Just being able to learn from guys like (tight ends) Will Kacmarek and Bennett Christian, it’s been a great help to me and I just want to keep continuing to build on that.”
Following his season-best performance against Minnesota, Klare followed it up with at least four catches in five of Ohio State’s next six games. In the final game of that streak, Klare caught a season-high seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against Rutgers on Nov. 22.
Klare finished his season ranking third on the Buckeyes with 43 receptions for 488 yards and two touchdowns.
Though he hasn’t been as productive as he was at Purdue in a crowded Ohio State offense, Klare said he can still identify areas for growth as he continues to refine his game with the Buckeyes.
“In terms of room to grow, I want to grow all aspects of the game, whether that’s in the run game or pass game,” Klare said. “I’m always looking for improvement and just to grow as a player, just as anyone would, and there are a lot of factors that come into play with that.”
For Klare, the adjustment has been about more than stats, as facing tougher competition and higher expectations at Ohio State has shaped a championship mindset.
“I think it’s been a long road,” Klare said. “Obviously, through the recruiting process and everything like that, I’ve been challenged here a lot. Whether that’s pre-season or even during the season, these challenges have built me up into a better player, and it’s something that I’m really appreciative of.”
