Michigan football TE Marlin Klein declares for 2026 NFL Draft: Report

Michigan football has become a tight end factory for the NFL and another one of its products is now ready to test his ability on the biggest stage.

Marlin Klein, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end, has declared for the NFL Draft according to ESPN. Klein, a captain in 2025, who battled his way through injuries off and on this season, still had one year of NCAA eligibility remaining.

Advertisement

Klein had the best year of his career in 2025, hauling in 24 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown, but in some ways it felt as though it could've been better. Klein set the tone for what felt like it could be a monster season in Week 1, finishing with a career-high six catches for 93 yards and the first touchdown of both his and Bryce Underwood's career.

3 NEEDS: Michigan football must attack these three positions in transfer portal

Instead, the rest of the way he had just 18 grabs for 153 yards and didn't find the end zone. Klein missed the Week 2 loss at Oklahoma after sustaining a lower body injury during practice and also missed the team's 24-7 win over Washington at home in mid-October with another undisclosed injury. Klein played the rest of the way, but had to leave U-M's final game against Texas early after taking what appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet hit on a short checkdown throw near the left sideline.

Advertisement

He finished what appears to have been his final collegiate game with four catches for 39 yards. Klein was always seen as a raw prospect, coming from Cologne, Germany, yet he grew under both Grant Newsome and more recently Steve Casula and was voted a captain by his teammates and an All Big Ten honorable mention by both coaches and media.

MICHIGAN TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Who will Wolverines keep, lose going into 2026?

Klein appeared in 35 games in his career with 12 starts but told ESPN he's "ready for the next step."

“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," Klein said according to ESPN. "They are getting a player that’s willing to die for his teammates.”

Advertisement

Michigan football's tight end room now primarily features Hogan Hansen, Deakon Tonielli, Zack Marshall and Brady Prieskorn - that is if they all stick around going into 2026 - as well as incoming freshman Matt Bonner.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football TE Marlin Klein declares for 2026 NFL Draft: Report