An Initial Look at Big 12 Newcomer Jalen Klemm

Jalen Klemm arrived from the Big 12 just when a quarter of the Pac-12 teams became linked with fleeing their burning building of a conference for his former surroundings.

Who knows, Klemm may yet turn up in Big Ten if the University of Washington is forced to turn all of its athletic offerings over to Midwest realignment as a matter of survival.

For now, the 6-foot-5, 281-pound redshirt freshman offensive tackle from Mars — as in Pennsylvania, which is found in the heart of Big Ten country, not a solar system — remains an interesting development for the Huskies.

Not long after UW coach Kalen DeBoer said at the end of spring football practice that his program wouldn't necessarily pursue offensive linemen in the transfer portal, choosing to develop them in-house, his recruiting staff signed Klemm from Kansas State.

Two things enabled this sudden college football courtship: 1) He is the son of a former NFL lineman and current New England Patriots offensive-line coach Adrian Klemm, bringing plenty of football pedigree; and 2) with four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting in his lone season in the Big 12, the younger Klemm still has plenty of room to engage in a full-fledged Husky development.

"Jalen is a guy who really fits well into a class or two where we're a little lighter in numbers," DeBoer said. "He's an offensive tackle body and a guy whose upbringing, and who is dad is, knows the game really well."

Two practices into fall camp, we took a moment to wander over and watch Klemm go through UW offensive-line grunt drills reserved for the West end zone on a daily basis.

First impression: Klemm, who wears No. 70, has a nice, lean frame for a 280-pounder, with no obvious belly fat hanging out, and clearly room for another 20 well- proportioned pounds added through the systematic and accredited Ron McKeefery School of Husky Body-Building.

Second impression: While he rightfully might be a little shy in his new Northwest football home, he didn't come across as some bad-tempered mauler in the trenches. He almost seemed a little laidback or studious, especially in comparison to redshirt freshman Parker Brailsford and freshman Landen Hatchett, both interior linemen, who were nearby and let all their emotions show on Thursday reps as young guys who can smell possible playing time early in their careers.

UW line coach Scott Huff had the following instructions for the newbie from the Big 12 as he patiently offered him introductory instruction.

"Put your second step in the ground."

"Little better."

"Better."

"Hands up!"

Besides going through various one-on-one drills, Klemm was inserted on a PAT blocking unit, lining up in a left tackle spot next to Robert Wyrsch, who filled the left guard position on this unit, with Klemm two removed from reserve long snapper Caleb Johnston.

Klemm brings a reinforcement presence with the prospect of the Huskies losing both starting tackles in Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten following this season to NFL pursuits.

He'll be developed in a rather methodical fashion and no doubt be bigger and meaner when the time comes for Klemm to take on a more serious assignment.

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