Elijah Klein Bio
Elijah Blue Klein (born April 8, 2000) is an American professional football offensive guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UTEP Miners and was selected by the Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 145 kilograms, Klein is listed among the larger linemen at his position and brings a long track record of college starting experience to the professional level.
Born in Pomona, California, Klein developed into a durable, multi-year starter on the offensive line and earned postseason recognition in Conference USA before declaring for the NFL. His transition from a two-star high school recruit to a sixth-round draft pick reflects steady development, consistency, and durability across more than fifty collegiate starts.
Early Life and Background
Elijah Blue Klein was born on April 8, 2000, in Pomona, California. He was raised in nearby Mount Baldy, California, and attended Upland High School in Upland, where he began building the foundation of his football career. The Southern California environment, known for producing skilled football players, gave Klein early exposure to the sport and helped shape his development as an offensive lineman.
At Upland High School, Klein played two years on the varsity team and was named first-team All-Baseline League as a senior. His high school performance was enough to attract college attention, and he committed to play college football for the UTEP Miners as a two-star recruit. Although the recruiting ranking was modest, his frame, technique, and coachability gave him a clear path to early playing time at the college level.
Path to American Football
Klein enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2018 and quickly earned a role on the offensive line. As a true freshman, he appeared in four games as a starter before deciding to redshirt, preserving a year of eligibility while gaining valuable experience against top-level college competition. The decision showed a long-term approach to his development.
In 2019, Klein played eight games with six starts at right guard, and in 2020 he started all eight games in the same position. By his sophomore and junior seasons, he had already established himself as a dependable presence on the Miners’ offensive front. His consistency through the COVID-shortened 2020 season and into 2021 set the stage for postseason recognition, and his continued production in 2022 and 2023 confirmed his status as one of the most experienced linemen in Conference USA.
Elijah Klein Career
College Career (2018–2023)
Klein’s college career at UTEP was defined by durability and steady improvement. He became a starter as a true freshman in 2018, playing four games before redshirting, and returned in 2019 to start six of eight appearances at right guard. In 2020, he started all eight games at the same position, demonstrating consistency through one of the most unusual seasons in modern college football history.
Across his five college seasons, Klein started 55 total games, a remarkable number that reflected his durability and the trust placed in him by UTEP’s coaching staff. He was named honorable mention All-Conference USA in both 2021 and 2022, starting 13 games at right guard in 2021 and 12 games in 2022. After his senior season in 2023, in which he started 12 games, he was honored as first-team All-Conference USA, the highest postseason recognition of his college career.
NFL Transition and Draft (2024)
Following the conclusion of his UTEP career, Klein accepted an invitation to the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl, a longstanding showcase for NFL draft prospects. Although he was not selected for the NFL Scouting Combine, his game film and Shrine Bowl performance gave NFL scouts a clear view of his experience and technique. Klein entered the 2024 NFL draft as a polished, multi-year starter with positional versatility along the interior offensive line.
Klein was selected in the sixth round, 220th overall, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The selection marked a significant milestone in his career, validating his decision to stay at UTEP and develop over a full five-year span. Being drafted by an established NFL franchise provided Klein with a clear professional pathway and an opportunity to compete for a roster spot at offensive guard.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2024–Present)
After being drafted by the Buccaneers, Klein joined the team as part of its 2024 rookie class along the offensive line. Tampa Bay, which had invested in retooling its front five in recent seasons, added Klein as a depth piece with the potential to develop into a longer-term contributor. His 55 collegiate starts gave him an unusually high level of experience for a Day 3 draft pick.
During his first NFL offseason, Klein focused on adjusting to the speed, complexity, and physical demands of the professional game. Tampa Bay’s coaching staff evaluated him at both guard positions, assessing his fit within the team’s offensive scheme. His reputation for reliability, technique, and football intelligence shaped his standing within the Buccaneers’ offensive line group.
Driving Style and Strengths
Klein is recognized for his size, technical soundness, and positional intelligence. His 55-game college starting record reflects an ability to handle complex protections and adjust to varied defensive looks. Coaches value his preparation habits and his experience in pass protection and run blocking schemes, both of which are central to Tampa Bay’s offensive approach.
Notable Events and Milestones
A signature milestone in Klein’s career came when he was named first-team All-Conference USA in 2023, the top individual honor of his college career. The recognition followed his 2021 and 2022 honorable mention selections and capped a five-year run as a starter at UTEP. His selection in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers marked the transition from accomplished college lineman to NFL professional.
Elijah Klein Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Elijah Klein’s statistical profile is defined by starts, durability, and postseason recognition rather than traditional win totals. Across his college career, he started 55 games and earned three Conference USA honors, including a first-team selection in 2023. His professional career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began in 2024 after being drafted in the sixth round.
Conference USA Highlights
During his time at UTEP, Klein was named honorable mention All-Conference USA in both 2021 and 2022 before earning first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2023. Those recognitions came on the strength of consistent play at right guard and a reputation for reliability along the Miners’ offensive front. His senior-season honor marked the high point of his college resume and helped establish his draft profile.
Other Performances
Klein appeared in the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl, where he competed against other draft-eligible players in a showcase setting. Although he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, his Shrine Bowl participation gave him a platform to demonstrate his technique in front of NFL evaluators.
Elijah Klein Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Elijah Klein’s family background is limited. He was born in Pomona, California, and raised in Mount Baldy, California, where he attended Upland High School. No further details about parents, siblings, or extended family members are publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Elijah Klein focuses primarily on his football career and professional development with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is not publicly known to be married, and verified details about a spouse or children are not available. His public presence is centered on his role with the Buccaneers and his work as an offensive lineman.
2025 Season Performance
Elijah Klein entered the 2025 NFL offseason with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers working to solidify his standing along the team’s offensive line. After joining the organization as a sixth-round pick in 2024, he spent his first professional offseason adjusting to the speed, terminology, and physical demands of the NFL game. Tampa Bay’s coaching staff continued to evaluate him at guard, with an emphasis on consistency in both pass protection and run blocking.
Throughout 2025, Klein’s development remained a key storyline within the Buccaneers’ offensive line plans. The team’s depth chart and rotation offered opportunities for younger linemen to earn meaningful snaps in practice and preseason action. Klein’s college experience of 55 starts provided a foundation that the Buccaneers viewed as an asset in their long-term offensive line construction.
Looking ahead through the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond, Klein’s outlook centers on continued growth and competition for an expanded role. The Buccaneers have emphasized building depth across the offensive line, and Klein’s combination of size, experience, and postseason college honors positions him as a candidate for further integration into the team’s regular plans. His progression will be a point of interest for Tampa Bay’s coaching staff and fan base alike.