The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1451622
2022 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE MARLIN KLEIN TIGHT END 6-6 • 215 • RABUN GAP- NACOOCHEE SCHOOL (GA.) COLOGNE, GERMANY RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 439 22 42 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 22 35 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 31 48 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 28 50 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 18 79 66 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2022 STATISTICS Year Rec. Yds. TD 2021 22 303 3 2020 17 298 5 2019 15 335 4 HONORS • Part of a team that played for the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state title in 2021. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan Sept. 20, 2020, after picking up his offer from the Maize and Blue in April 2020. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Georgia, Ole Miss and Michigan State. • Recruited by then-tight ends coaches Sherrone Moore (before he moved to offensive line), then Jay Har- baugh, who will mentor safeties in 2022. DID YOU KNOW? • Transferred to play and attend school in Georgia ahead of his junior year after beginning his career with the Cologne Crocodiles in his native Germany. • Born Sept. 17, 2002. THEY SAID IT • On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "Marlin Klein, just from a measurable perspec- tive, is one that we like. He's 6-6, 210- 215 pounds. Big, fast … he ran a low 11.1 [100-meter dash] or something like that, so that's pretty dog-gone good for a tight end. He's a four-star outside of the top 300 for us. He's like a big receiver who has that ability to stretch the field and run." BY TIM VERGHESE Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee School tight end Marlin Klein committed to Michigan in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, having only made an academic visit to the campus and zero in-person contact with the coaching staff, but he knew it was home. "When I flew into Detroit, and I was walking around campus, I couldn't even see anybody but I was like, this is his home," he said. "Up north, that's where I want to be; you know, I'm from Germany. And it was a pretty fast decision. I didn't want to hesitate or anything; I just made that decision. That's where I wanted to be, that's where I'm going be, and there's no doubt in my mind." Klein committed to Michigan ahead of what was a disappointing 2-4 season in 2020. He never lost faith and always knew Michigan would be able to turn things around under head coach Jim Harbaugh. "It's just shown the entire college football world that you shouldn't doubt anybody," he said of Michigan's 2021 season. "It's just awesome to see how things can turn around in a short period of time." The four-star was originally recruited by Sherrone Moore, who was previously the tight ends coach before moving to the offensive line prior to the 2021 sea- son. Moore played a major role in landing Klein, but he has "no doubt in his mind" his new position coach, former U-M tackle Grant Newsome, will be able to teach him everything he needs to know. Klein's been keeping a close eye on Erick All and Luke Schoonmaker, and was a fan of the way Michigan utilized its tight ends last season. Though he's not enrolling early, Klein is going to be in frequent contact with the staff to make sure he's on track with the rest of the team when he enrolls over the summer. Klein has built a great rapport with many of his fellow Michigan signees, but has especially bonded with fellow tight end signee Colston Loveland, and the two have big goals they want to achieve together. "We've been talking," he said. "We're planning on being the top two tight ends in college football over the next couple years. So it's going to be a great time. I like him." ❑ German Marlin Klein Knew Michigan Was His Next Home Klein is ranked as the No. 439 prospect and No. 22 tight end in the country per the On3 Consensus. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND 2022 Projection Klein likely won't see the field much as a freshman. He won't make it up to campus until the summer but is working in close collaboration with coaches to stay up-to-date on the playbook and make sure he's on track with the rest of the team when he enrolls. Still has some work to do in the weight room to add mass to his frame and will need some time to adjust to Big Ten football. Has a lot of potential in Michigan's system, but it will likely be a couple years before he becomes a mainstay in the offense. consensus