TE Marlin Klein’s path to Michigan, outlook for 2024

Colston Loveland is Michigan’s No. 1 star tight end, but there are plenty of opportunities for the No. 2 tight end to secure a spot in Michigan’s tight-end-friendly offensive system.

With AJ Barner heading to the NFL, whoever is labeled as Michigan’s TE2 has a prime chance to make a splash in 2024. And that’s where Marlin Klein comes in.

The story so far

Klein is from Germany and played for the local Cologne Crocodiles. Klein caught the attention of fellow German and former State of Florida Defensive end Björn Werner. Werner sent a tape of Klein through his organization Gridiron Imports, which led to Klein going to the United States to play for Rabun Gap-Nachoochee in Georgia.

Klein developed into a three-star talent and chose Michigan while receiving offers from State of ArizonaGeorgia, Florida State, Nebraska and State of Michigan.

Klein played 12 games for Michigan in two seasons and caught his first and only pass of his career last year against Michigan State.

Outlook for the future

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Klein has had a good spring of training, according to Michigan tight end Max Bredeson, who calls Klein a “freak athlete.” Colston Loveland said the same thing, talking about all the intangibles that could make Klein a dangerous weapon for the Wolverines.

“Marlin is the fastest tight end, probably the strongest tight end, the biggest tight end, so he has everything,” Loveland said in March. “He’s done a great job this spring of taking the next step — actually being in the starting lineup, getting real playing time, and he’s just embraced it and done a damn good job in practice.”

Klein’s lack of catches in two seasons has more to do with the talent and experience of the options ahead of him who were previously ranked, such as AJ Barner and Luke Schoonmaker. Klein is now the next man up after waiting for his chance. The former Schoonmaker, for example, had just two catches in his first three seasons at Michigan and 52 catches and six touchdowns in his final two seasons and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

If Klein is indeed the fastest and strongest tight end around, as Loveland says, then that’s another reason why Michigan’s offense may go unnoticed until 2024.