Marlin Klein Fires Back: “No Excuse for Drops — No Matter How Hard Bryce Throws It”
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan Wolverines have heard it all this season. After a few weeks filled with unexpected drops from receivers, some Michigan fans have started pointing fingers — not at the wideouts, but at the quarterback.
Their claim? Bryce Underwood throws the ball too hard.
They say his velocity — the sheer zip and power of his throws — is making it difficult for pass-catchers to hang onto the ball. But not everyone inside the locker room is buying that explanation.
Tight end Marlin Klein, one of Michigan’s captains and veteran leaders, has had enough of the excuses.
“There’s no excuse for dropping passes,” Klein said bluntly after Wednesday’s practice. “Regardless of how hard the ball is thrown — that’s our job. If it hits your hands, you catch it. Period.”
Klein’s Early Dominance — and Sudden Setback
Klein’s season started with fireworks. In Week 1, against New Mexico, he looked every bit like Michigan’s next great tight end, picking up right where Colston Loveland left off. Klein hauled in six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, quickly becoming Bryce Underwood’s favorite target.
It looked like the beginning of a breakout year. But then, everything changed.
During the week of practice leading up to the Week 2 matchup at Oklahoma, Klein suffered an injury that sidelined him unexpectedly. He suited up but never took the field.
“It was obviously a tough time,” Klein admitted. “Getting injured right before one of the biggest games of the season — something I’d been looking forward to — that was hard. But I’m doing good now and just excited to be back with the boys.”
The Road Back — and the Drop Debate
Klein returned in Week 3 against Central Michigan, but he wasn’t the same. His mobility was limited, his snap count reduced, and over the next three games, he recorded just five receptions for 44 yards.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s receiving corps struggled with inconsistency — particularly on routine catches. Some fans and even a few analysts began circulating the theory that Underwood’s “laser-like” arm strength was partly to blame.
But Klein — a player who has caught hundreds of Underwood’s passes in practice — shot down that idea.
“Look, Bryce throws with velocity, no question,” Klein said. “But that’s what makes him elite. You can’t tell a quarterback to slow down a pass because someone can’t handle it. We need to rise to his level, not bring him down to ours.”
Inside Schembechler Hall, Klein’s words resonated. Coaches and teammates echoed the same message: the standard doesn’t change just because the ball arrives faster.
Head coach Sherrone Moore even addressed the issue earlier this week, saying the team was “focusing heavily on catching technique — eyes on the ball, hands away from the body, and finishing the catch.”
The Tight End Room — Waiting for Full Strength
Klein’s return couldn’t come at a better time for Michigan. The tight end room has been battered by injuries this fall. Hogan Hansen, another promising target, has been recovering since spring ball. He’s seen limited action, appearing in just two games — at Oklahoma and against Central Michigan — before missing the last two contests against Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Still, when healthy, Hansen flashed his potential, catching three passes for 43 yards against the Chippewas.
“I think we’re two tight ends that can help this offense tremendously,” Klein said of himself and Hansen. “We believe we’re two of the best in the country. When we’re healthy and out there together, it should be something special for this team.”
With Hansen listed as probable to return this weekend, Michigan may finally get a glimpse of that vision — two big, athletic tight ends on the field at the same time, stretching defenses and giving Underwood multiple reliable targets.
McCulley’s Rise — Another Weapon for Underwood
Klein also gave credit where it was due — to wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who’s coming off his best performance as a Wolverine.
“Obviously, we’ve got a guy wearing No. 1 — and you’ve seen what he can do,” Klein said with a smile. “He’s not the shortest receiver out there, he’s making plays, and I’m just happy for him. He gives Bryce another big target to go to.”
With McCulley’s emergence and Klein’s full return to health, Michigan’s passing game could be ready to rebound after several uneven outings.
Looking Ahead: USC Awaits
This weekend’s matchup is no small test. Michigan heads west for a massive clash against USC at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PDT and will air on NBC.
For Klein, it’s another chance to prove he’s fully back — and to silence any lingering doubts about Michigan’s receiving consistency.
“I’m 100%,” he said confidently. “Ready to go. We’ve got a big one coming, and I just want to be there for my guys. No excuses. Just execution.”
Bottom Line
As Michigan gears up for USC, the message from Marlin Klein couldn’t be clearer: stop making excuses.
Bryce Underwood’s arm strength isn’t the problem — it’s the standard.
And if Klein’s leadership is any indication, Michigan’s offense might just be ready to rise to meet it.
