COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio State’s new tight end, who only arrived a couple months ago, says it feels like home.

Max Klare transferred in from Purdue and he’s no stranger to football in Ohio as a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. 

Klare brings a different skill set to Buckeyes, Tight Ends Coach Keenan Bailey said.

“He showed some things on film that might complement what we already have in the room and really make us a pretty whole unit,” Bailey said.  

Klare was an All-Big Ten player at Purdue last season. In 18 career games with the Boilermakers, he had 73 catches for 881 yards. Last season was a break out year, with the majority of his production coming in 2024. 

“Coach Bailey hit on all the things I wanted to hear and some things I didn’t want to hear,” Klare said. “You know what I mean. 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. 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.”

There should be opportunity for Klare to produce against ideal matchups.

Two years ago, Cade Stover thrived in a similar situation when defenses focused on Marvin Harrison Jr. Stover was second on the team in targets beating man coverage over and over.