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Coming off a 1-11 season, Purdue could ill afford to lose Max Klare — the No. 1 tight end in the transfer portal — but he is leaving the Boilermakers for rival Ohio State.

Klare, a redshirt sophomore who led Purdue with 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, is a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings. He ranks No. 30 overall.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Klare will have two years of eligibility remaining when he suits up for Buckeyes coach Ryan Day, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey.

“Really, when it came down to making the decision, Coach Day’s ability to develop players and send them off to the NFL, the developmental process for me was huge,” Klare told ESPN, which was first to report the news of his transfer.

An All-Big Ten third-team selection in 2024, Klare opted to join Ohio State over Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M and Louisville.

In two seasons with Purdue, Klare finished with 73 receptions for 881 yards and four scores. In 2024, his 685 receiving yards ranked sixth nationally among all tight ends.

Klare wasn’t the only big get on Monday for Ohio State, which will play Oregon at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in the CFP quarterfinals. Earlier in the day, the Buckeyes added former West Virginia running back C.J. Donaldson, former Minnesota offensive tackle and former Idaho State defensive end Logan George via the transfer portal.

–Field Level Media