Top 30 Purdue football players: No. 7 Max Klare

Purdue has started preparations for the 2024 campaign in training camp, gearing toward the season-opener on August 31 at home vs Indiana State. Let’s count down the top 30 Boilermakers as we march to the start of Ryan Walters‘ second season in West Lafayette.

No. 7 Max Klare, TE, Sophomore

What if Max Klare had not suffered a season-ending injury vs. Illinois last year, forcing him to miss the final seven games?

Klare had caught 22 passes for 196 yards over five games–four starts–before incurring a leg injury on Sept. 30 vs. the Fighting Illini.

“I think you can expect a more developed player, just more in tune with the offense, more in tune with the quarterback, understanding the defense, more and just a more well rounded player in all aspects of the game,” said Klare

Had he stayed on that pace, Klare would have finished with 53 catches for 470 yards, likely earning some freshman All-American honors.

Klare, who announced his arrival at Virginia Tech last season by breaking out with eight receptions for 64 yards, showed in April he’s back and ready to move forward when he made three grabs in the spring game.

Hopes are high in 2024 for the 6-4, 240-pound Klare, who also was a baseball standout at St. Xavier in Cincinnati. He’ll get to play with younger brother Luke, a walk-on tight end, this season at Purdue.

Klare is part of a boffo collection of Boilermaker tight ends, including another rising talent in George Burhenn, who is out now dealing with injury. The group also includes Drew Biber and true freshman Tayvion Galloway.

But all eyes are on Klare.

“He’s one of the best tight ends that I’ve been around. He’s a great player,” said quarterback Hudson Card. “He can block and he also runs some of the best routes that I’ve been around. He makes my life easy and he’s going to do some special things.”

TOP 30 PURDUE PLAYER COUNTDOWN

RankPosition Player30WR Jayden Dixon-Veal29DL Joseph Anderson28WR De’Nylon Morrissette27WR Jaron Tibbs26DL Jeffrey M’Ba25ILB Yanni Karlaftis24S Antonio Stevens23OL Mahamane Moussa22TE George Burhenn21WR Kam Brown20CB Markevious Brown19RE Shittah Sillah18DB Kyndrich Breedlove17RE CJ Madden16RB Reggie Love15NT Cole Brevard14OL DJ Wingfield13NT Mo Omonode12WR CJ Smith11RE Will Heldt10OT Corey Stewart9CB Nyland Green8WR Jahmal Edrine

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