Wolverine Digest

Michigan's third leading pass catcher in 2025 to enter NFL Draft

The Wolverines' tight end will look to move on to the next level
Seth Berry|
Michigan tight end Marlin Klein (17) makes a catch against New Mexico safety Austin Brawley (21) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Michigan tight end Marlin Klein (17) makes a catch against New Mexico safety Austin Brawley (21) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Michigan Wolverines

With a year of college eligibility remaining, Michigan football senior tight end Marlin Klein will enter the 2026 NFL Draft, he told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

"The NFL is getting an explosive player that can do whatever is asked of him—play special teams, run block and catch the ball and someone who is not going to complain about his usage. They are getting a player that’s willing to die for his teammates," Klein told ESPN.

Thamel further noted in his post about Klein that the tight end is expected to test well across the board, having hit over 21 MPH on the GPS. Against Texas in the Wolverines' bowl game on New Year's Eve, Klein grabbed four passes for 39 yards.

"Honestly, I'm ready for the next step," Klein said to ESPN.

Klein at Michigan

Klein was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by the coaches and media for his play on the field for the Maize and Blue in 2025.

He caught his first career touchdown pass in the Wolverines' Week 1 game against the New Mexico Lobos and hauled in six passes for 93 yards in that game.

Klein came on to Michigan in 2022, when he appeared in two games against Hawaii and UConn early in that season while using a redshirt. In 2023, Klein began to see an increased role, particularly on special teams, while also rotating in at tight end in eight of Michigan's games.

In 2024, Klein appeared in all 13 games with six starts at tight end, filling in for the injured Colston Loveland in those starts. He caught 13 passes for 18 yards last season and was named the team's Most Improved Player on offense.

Marlin Klein
Michigan tight end Marlin Klein (17) celebrates a play made by running back Jordan Marshall (23) against Ohio State during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This season, Klein started 11 games at tight end and was third on the team in receiving yards, collecting 248 yards on 24 receptions and scoring one touchdown.

In his four-year Michigan career, Klein totaled 364 receiving yards on 38 receptions and a score.

Klein was voted as a captain by his teammates for the 2025 season.

As someone who spent much of his career at Michigan behind Loveland, who is now thriving in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, it will be interesting to see how Klein's game translates at the next level.

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place on April 23-25.

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Seth Berry
SETH BERRY

Seth began writing on Michigan athletics in 2015 and has remained in the U-M media space ever since, which includes stops at Maize N Brew and Rivals before coming onto Michigan On SI in June of 2025. Seth has covered various angles of Michigan football and basketball, including recruiting, overall team coverage and feature/analysis stories relating to the Wolverines. His passion for Michigan sports and desire to tell stories led him to the sports journalism world. He is a 2020 graduate of Western Michigan University and is the former sports editor of the Western Herald, WMU's student newspaper.

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