They said he was the fastest tight end in Ann Arbor.
Now Marlin Klein just brought the receipts.
Michigan’s Marlin Klein Turns Heads at NFL Combine — And Yes, He Just Beat Colston Loveland’s 40 Time
For years inside the Michigan football facility, one quiet rumor kept surfacing:
Marlin Klein might actually be the most athletic tight end on the roster.
That’s saying something — especially when the name Colston Loveland was dominating headlines and eventually landing in Chicago as an NFL rookie.
But on Friday in Indianapolis, Klein finally had his moment under the stopwatch.
And the numbers don’t lie.
The German-born tight end clocked a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine — officially faster than Loveland’s 4.71 posted at last year’s combine.
Yes. Faster.
For a player often overshadowed in college, that split-second difference feels symbolic.
Speed Confirmed — But It’s Complicated
Klein’s 4.62 ranked seventh among tight ends at the time of his run — strong, but not elite.
And while the headline speed stands out, the rest of his testing painted a more balanced picture.
- 10-yard split: 1.63 seconds (solid, but not explosive)
- Vertical jump: 36 inches (middle of the pack)
- Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches (near the bottom among TEs)
Translation? Klein showed good athleticism — just not overwhelming dominance across every drill.
Adding an unexpected wrinkle: former Michigan tight end Matthew Hibner, now at SMU, actually ran a faster 4.57 at the combine.
So while Klein topped Loveland’s 40, he didn’t claim the Michigan tight end speed crown outright.
Betting on Traits Over Production
Klein’s draft profile reflects the same split narrative.
NFL.com assigned him a 5.97 grade, projecting him as an “average backup or special teamer.” That’s not a ringing endorsement — but it’s not a dismissal either.
His athleticism score? A respectable 76.
His production score? Just 58.
That gap tells the story.
Scouts see tools. They see size, movement ability, and flashes. But they also see limited college production and questions about consistency.
Klein even had a year of eligibility remaining at Michigan — but chose to leave early and bet on his athletic upside.
That decision now looks strategic. A 4.62 at 6-foot-6 (with NFL frame and blocking capability) forces teams to re-open the file.
The Loveland Comparison — Fair or Not?
Beating Loveland’s 40 time will generate buzz — but context matters.
Loveland wasn’t drafted for straight-line speed. He was valued for route nuance, reliability, and all-around tight end play. Klein’s combine showing doesn’t erase that.
However, it does reinforce something Michigan insiders have whispered for years:
Klein might be the better pure athlete.
And in today’s NFL — where tight ends are increasingly hybrid weapons — raw athletic traits can buy development time.
What Happens Next?
A 4.62 won’t skyrocket Klein into Day 1 conversations.
But it might secure him a clearer Day 3 role — or even elevate him into late Day 2 discussions if teams fall in love with the upside.
At worst, he profiles as a depth tight end with special teams value.
At best? A developmental mismatch weapon who hasn’t come close to hitting his ceiling.
For now, one thing is certain:
Marlin Klein walked into Indianapolis as a question mark.
He left with proof of speed — and a stopwatch that backed up the hype.
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