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Ohio State tight end Max Klare loses black stripe

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•03/31/25•

SpencerHolbrook

Keenan Bailey and Max Klare by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Keenan Bailey and Max Klare (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Max Klare is only halfway through his first spring at Ohio State. But he’s a veteran college football player from his time at Purdue, and the tight end is already showing he can make an impact as a transfer for the Buckeyes.

Klare officially became a Buckeyes player Monday, shedding his black stripe to signal he’s doing what is asked of him this spring.

It’s a good bench mark for the veteran tight end as he looks to make waves in the potent Ohio State offense after doing that for the Boilermakers.

Klare met with the media last week to break down how his transition to Ohio State has been.

“It’s amazing,” Klare said Thursday. “There’s so much talent here. It’s unbelievable and makes everyone better. It’s fun to be out there with them. … Those guys are awesome. I mean, I couldn’t have asked for a better group to come in with and really bond with. Showing up and being with them every day makes it so much easier on me. So, I love it.”

Klare brings his body of work — 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Boilermakers — to this Ohio State offense. More importantly, he brings a competitive edge that wasn’t even missing in the room, but the Buckeyes believe they can always use more of. He’s competing for playing time alongside veterans Bennett Christian, Will Kacmarek and Jelani Thurman as well as redshirt freshman Max Leblanc and freshman Nate Roberts.

Turn on the tape from his time at Purdue, and it’s easy to see why Klare was such a highly-sought after transfer portal target — and why the Buckeyes were interested. But he’s made this transition look just as easy off the field as he has on the field.

“He’s doing really well,” Ohio State tight ends coach Keenan Bailey said. “Acclimating really well. Probably the most impressive thing is how seamless the transition has been to our unit. But on the field, he’s playing well. We knew he’d play well. But buying into the culture and being an Ohio State tight end, it comes with an air of something, certain traits of being a tough guy. He’s embodied that.”

Klare had plenty of suitors when he entered the transfer portal. Why pick Ohio State, the program with the best receivers in the country and isn’t known for throwing to tight ends?

He and Bailey had conversations about what a move to Columbus would mean for the Buckeyes and for Klare. Then he made his decision.

That decision is paying off already. Max Klare shed his black stripe, and he’s in line to help this Ohio State offense immediately.

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