Ranking Ohio State's 2025 Playmakers: No. 5 - TE Max Klare

Max Klare is a fourth-year junior transfer from Purdue who caught 51 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Boilermakers.

No. 5 – Max Klare – Redshirt Junior Tight End

As a prospect, Max Klare was ranked the No. 69 tight end overall in the 2022 class. He attended Cincinnati Xavier High School where he was the No. 6 tight end in the state of Ohio.

Klare redshirted as a true freshman and was lost just five games into his redshirt freshman in 2023, but not until he had 22 catches. He led the Boilers last year with his aforementioned 51 receptions. Klare had at least two catches in every game last season, including a season-low two catches for 13 yards in a 45-0 loss at Ohio State.

Klare had a season-high six catches for 133 yards in a wild 50-49 loss at Illinois.

Here is a look at new Ohio State TE Max Klare (86) as a pass catcher against Illinois, Notre Dame, and Ohio State this past season. pic.twitter.com/ykYZYsgDHD
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) February 9, 2025

Statistical History

What He Does Well

Max Klare is labeled a pass-catching tight end because he does more with the ball than most. His 13.4 yards per catch last season were second-best in the Big Ten last year among tight ends, just behind Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson’ 13.7 yards per catch.

Klare can be used all over the field in the passing game. That is one of the reasons OSU tight ends coach Keenan Bailey went after him in the portal. Klare is as comfortable in the slot as he is attached to the offensive line. He is effective after the catch in the screen game. He can be a downfield threat or a chain mover.

Only Penn State’s Tyler Warren had more 30-yard receptions (5) among Big Ten tight ends than Klare (4) last season, and no tight end had more 40-yard receptions than Klare (3). In fact, only five receivers in the conference had more 40-yard receptions than Klare — and Jeremiah Smith was the only Buckeye.

Max Klare In 2025

Max Klare has already shown how effective he can be as an offense’s primary passing weapon. Klare had three more receptions than the next two Boilermaker receivers combined last year. As a Buckeye this year, that’s not going to be the case, but the potential will always be there for a seven-catch game that leads the team.

Klare could become the best friend for a young quarterback. Especially when there will be so much focus on a talented group of Buckeye receivers and running game. Klare’s effectiveness will be seen down the seam, as it was in the spring game. He will also be a weapon in the play-action and RPO game.

Klare may not match his 51 catches from last season, but his impact will still be felt in every game. He won’t just be an outlet receiver. There will be plays designed for him in this offense, and several of them will go a pretty long way.

What They Are Saying

“Coach Kee, he hit on all the things I wanted to hear and some things I didn’t want to hear. And that’s real as a coach and you want to be in an environment that’s going to push you in all aspects of the game. And being a tight end, it’s not just about pass catching. You’ve got to block. That’s something that I want to keep developing, and going against these guys every day, I mean, running routes and blocking these guys every day, it’s 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.” — Max Klare on why he chose to transfer to Ohio State.

Previous: No. 10 – Quincy Porter, WR | No. 9 – Bo Jackson, RB | No. 8 – Bryson Rodgers, WR | No. 7 – Mylan Graham, WR | No. 6 – CJ Donaldson, RB

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