Five years ago when Marlin Klein moved to the U.S. from Germany, he didn’t speak any English. He transferred to finish high school in Georgia, where he played football. So along with learning a new language in a new country, he also had to learn a sport with practically a language of its own.
“Back home, you got your route tree or slants and hitches, but nothing specific,” Klein said Tuesday. “So that was kind of really just learning the game but also learning the vocab. That was pretty tough at the beginning.”
Now, speaking without an accent, the junior tight end has mastered the English language, including the football-specific lingo. And in his three years with the Michigan football team, he’s learned the offense, steadily moving up the depth chart and learning from those in front of him.
He only appeared in two games his freshman year, and though he played in 10 games last season, his impact was minimal. Now, he’s the No. 2 option behind preseason All-American junior tight end Colston Loveland.
“I really give Marlin a lot of credit for just continuing to work, continuing to develop, being probably frustrated at times about his opportunities, but at the same time not being discouraged,” Wolverines tight ends coach Steve Casula said Wednesday. “Not everybody’s journey is the same. Not everybody’s going to play as a true freshman. College football is not a movie, so I give him a ton of credit for hanging in there.”
As he’s earned more snaps this season, Klein’s effort and dedication have started to pay off. In the wake of Loveland’s injury on Saturday, Klein stepped up and had a career game as a result. He hauled in three catches for 43 yards, making him Michigan’s leading receiver against Arkansas State.
Considering Loveland was the Wolverines’ leading receiver in the first two games of the season, Klein being able to similarly help the passing game in his absence was key. Klein embraced the heightened responsibilities, an indication of his years of preparation for this moment.
“Over the past few years, it’s kind of been my thing, just be ready and prepare like I’m the starting tight end here at the University of Michigan,” Klein said. “ … I was prepared by our coaches and even by Colston Loveland when he came back out. He was in my ear telling me ‘Hey, you got this, whatever you need, I’m here for you.’ ”
Klein’s receptions on Saturday jumped out, but his physicality and solid blocking were just as important, helping the Wolverines establish the running game. As Casula noted, Michigan asks its tight ends to do a lot of different things. For Klein, it doesn’t matter what he’s asked to do as long as it helps his team win.
“It’s obviously fun to catch a rock here and there,” Klein said. “But to me, all that matters is winning at the end of the day. That’s the kind of competitor I am, and that’s what this culture has been built on for the past couple years. So whatever we have to do, having a hand in the dirt or catching 70-yard passes.”
Five years ago, leading the Wolverines in receiving yards in a game and talking about football — or anything in English — at length might have seemed impossible. But with plenty of patience and hard work over the years, Klein has become an accomplished tight end who’s fluent in football.
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