Ohio State's top receiving weapon at the tight end position is off to the NFL.
Max Klare declared for the 2026 NFL draft on Tuesday, forgoing his final year of eligibility in Columbus.
NEWS: Ohio State tight end Max Klare is leaving school early and entering the NFL Draft, he tells ESPN. Klare projects as one of the NFL drafts top tight ends. He brings high-end production, with 43 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns this year. pic.twitter.com/8Y0UZWXStF
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 13, 2026
One of the crown jewels of the Buckeyes' 2025 transfer portal class, Klare was the No. 1 tight end in the portal last cycle. His production proved respectable throughout the year, with 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns, but he was held under 30 receiving yards in Ohio State's four biggest games: Texas, Michigan, Indiana and Miami.
Klare spent the first three seasons of his career at Purdue, enjoying a breakout campaign in 2024 with 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns, all team-highs for an otherwise maligned offense. He's a projected late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick in the draft.
With Klare off to the NFL, top blocking tight end Will Kacmarek out of eligibility and rising redshirt junior Jelani Thurman in the portal, the top of Ohio State's tight end depth chart will look different in 2026. Rising sophomore Nate Roberts and redshirt senior Bennett Christian are Ohio State’s top returning tight ends, while former Ohio tight end Mason Williams and former Northwestern tight end Hunter Welcing join as transfers.
Redshirt sophomore Max LeBlanc and redshirt freshman Brody Lennon complete the list of returning scholarship tight ends, with Nick Lautar joining as an incoming freshman.
