Michigan football's Marlin Klein poised for breakout as elite tight end in 2025 season

USA Today

11-06-2025

Michigan football's Marlin Klein poised for breakout as elite tight end in 2025 season
Last year, as he was about to become a starter for Michigan football for the first time, tight end Marlin Klein was No. 90 on The Athletic's 'freaks list.'
Since arriving in Ann Arbor, Klein, who began his football career with the Cologne Crocodiles in his native Germany, has turned a lot of heads. Loveland emerged as a matchup nightmare last year thanks to his rangy frame and speed that tops out at 21.25 mph. Klein, now 6-6 and 250, hit 21.75 mph this summer. He broad-jumped 9-7.
Former Wolverines star Colston Loveland had said last spring that Klein was the fastest tight end on the team, yet Klein only had 13 catches for 108 yards for an average of 8.31 yards per catch. Now that he's set to start (for a second year) alongside sophomore Hogan Hansen, the team is hoping he can be more of a focal point in the passing game.
Steve Casula coaching Klein to use his skills more
That notion isn't lost on the coaches, that we haven't seen Klein maximize his potential. Speaking to Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches Podcast, tight ends coach Steve Casula noted that Klein absolutely needs to do everything he can to punish defenses, given what he has at his disposal.
"He and I have talked about this. It needs to be," Casula said. "And he and I together need to make sure that that happens. Because we have talked a lot about his ability and his potential. And he's helped us win a bunch of football games here and played outstanding as an inline tight end this past year. But he and I both are in agreement. It's time for that to happen this fall.
"So we kind of, he and I have kind of talked about this. I'm gonna talk about it less and do it more. But yeah, I really believe that this is the year that it needs to happen. I've got all the faith and trust in Mar, and he's got outstanding ability and talent. And the time for him is now."
What Klein should be for the Wolverines
Casula thinks that Klein can achieve the goals set in front of him. He's seen good things from him in the offseason, now is just the time to put everything together.
Given the premium nature of the tight end position in the Michigan football offense (which isn't changing even with Chip Lindsey taking over the offensive coordinator position), Casula wants to see Klein rise to the occasion -- to become a premier tight end in college football. Because, essentially, that's what's demanded in the Michigan offense.
"Like we were saying, ball finds talent, technique, and energy. He's got great talent," Casula said. "He's got the capacity to use great technique. And he's got the right energy about him. But I think it's a combination of both.
"He is gonna be targeted more this upcoming season. And my challenge has been him, every single play, man, win the route. Every single play, do it right. So he's being held to a super high standard now. I do believe this spring was the best he's ever played. But again, our guys need to be who Michigan needs them to be. Michigan's starting tight end needs to be an NFL player and an all-conference level player. That's what our history is. That's what the level of expectation is. So pushing him to be that. He's ready to be coached, as you mentioned earlier, on the why. He knows what to do. He knows how to do it. He's to the point in his career where he's kind of taking that next step. But now it's about going and doing it."
Klein will certainly have competition to help make him better. Hogan Hansen is expected to take a big step forward, while other players -- such as Brady Prieskorn and Zack Marshall -- have gotten some offseason accolades. That's not even mentioning the fullbacks -- Max Bredeson and Jalen Hoffman -- who could see more time working as pass-catching threats in the new offense.