For the last decade or so, the Ohio State football program has gotten the reputation for ignoring the tight end in the passing game. Tight ends are used more in the run game as blockers than they are as true weapons down the field. They are used a little more in the red zone, though.
Perhaps the best pure pass-catcher the Ohio State Buckeyes have had at tight end in the last few years is Jeremy Ruckert. Other than him, the Buckeyes haven't had a true threat over the middle. New transfer tight end Max Klare has a chance to shed that ugly stigman this season.
Klare was rated as the top tight end available in the Transfer Portal this offseason. Adding him gives the Buckeyes yet another weapon to throw the ball to. Klare now can become a highly valuable weapon in an offense that is already incredibly dangerous for opponents.
Max Klare can reverse an ugly trend for the Ohio State football program
Coming in from Purdue, Klare can be a really good weapon up the middle for the Buckeyes all over the field. He isn't just going to be someone that they can use close to the goal line to score touchdowns. They can use him all over the field to get massive chunks of yards.
Last season with the Boilermakers, Klare had 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. He was clearly the best weapon that Purdue had last season. Now that he's got a much better quarterback to throw him the ball, he should only be better this season.
If Klare is able to have a similar season yardage-wise to what he had with Purdue, he could shed the ugly stigma that the Buckeyes don't use the tight end in the passing game. He would be a recruiting tool that Ohio State can use for years to come at that spot.
Klare is a really good player, and he is one of the new guys that fans are most excited to see in this offense. Brian Hartline is excited to have him, as well.