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Ohio State football lands Max Klare from transfer portal. How former Purdue TE fits
Former Purdue tight end Max Klare has committed to transfer to Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes a difference-maker at that position for 2025.
Klare caught 51 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns this season for Purdue. He was the leading receiver in all three categories for the Boilermakers, who were winless in the Big Ten and fired coach Ryan Walters.
Klare finished sixth nationally in receiving yards among tight ends.
Klare was ranked the top available tight end in the NCAA transfer portal by ESPN and the No. 20 player overall. Texas, Michigan, Louisville and Texas A&M were reportedly other programs that pursued him.
Klare will have two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-4, 240-pounder is from Guilford, Indiana, near Cincinnati. He attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.
He is the third transfer addition of the day for Ohio State, following West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson and Idaho State defensive end Logan George.
Why TE Max Klare picked Ohio State from transfer portal
Klare told ESPN that Ohio State’s status as an elite program and ability to develop him further were major reasons for his decision.
“Really, when it came down to making the decision, coach Day’s ability to develop players and send them off to the NFL, the development process was huge for me,” he told ESPN.
“Just an opportunity to win a national championship and develop into a better player and play against the best competition, day-in and day-out (appealed to me), and being around a lot of like-minded individuals that are going to push me to be my best.”
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How Max Klare will fit with Ohio State football’s roster
Klare is the front-runner to start for Ohio State next year. Starter Gee Scott Jr.’s eligibility expires, as does Will Kacmarek’s. Kacmarek is an Ohio University transfer who has been a significant role player.
The Buckeyes still have Jelani Thurman, a promising but inconsistent sophomore, and Bennett Christian, who’s more of a blocker.
Klare and Thurman could give the Buckeyes a strong receiving element from the tight end position that they lacked this year following Cade Stover’s graduation.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Klare accounted for almost 32% of Purdue’s pass plays that gained 10 or more yards.
Ohio State football transfer targets
The Buckeyes remain in the mix for Rice offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa, according to multiple reports.
When does transfer portal close?
The portal closes on Dec. 28 or five days following a team’s last postseason game.