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 ft 4 in and listed at 319 lb, Klein plays the interior offensive line and is listed as active on the Tampa Bay roster wearing jersey number 79.
After starting 55 games during his UTEP career, Klein transitioned to the professional ranks as a mid-round pick and has continued to develop within the Buccaneers’ offensive line room. His journey from a two-star high school recruit to a regular contributor in an NFL training camp rotation reflects years of steady progression at the college level.
Early Life and Background
Elijah Blue Klein was born on April 8, 2000, in Pomona, California, and was raised in nearby Mount Baldy, California. Growing up in the Inland Empire, he attended Upland High School in Upland, California, where he played two seasons on the varsity football team. As a senior, he was recognized as a first-team All-Baseline League selection, an early indicator of the consistency that would later define his college career.
Coming out of high school, Klein was rated as a two-star recruit, a modest evaluation that placed him outside the most heavily scouted national prospects. Despite the limited recruiting attention, he committed to play college football for the UTEP Miners, choosing to develop within Conference USA rather than pursue offers at larger programs. His decision to begin his career at the collegiate level on a developmental path would shape his approach to the offensive line.
Path to American Football
Klein’s path to professional football accelerated quickly once he arrived at the University of Texas at El Paso. He became a starter on the UTEP offensive line as a true freshman in 2018, starting four games before electing to redshirt and preserve a year of eligibility. The decision allowed him to add size and refine his technique, setting the foundation for a heavy workload over the following five seasons.
By 2019, he was a regular in the Miners’ lineup, starting six of the eight games he played at right guard. He then started all eight games at the same position in 2020, demonstrating the durability and reliability that would become his trademark. Over the course of his UTEP career, Klein would start 55 games, an exceptionally high total that reflected both his consistency and his value to the program.
Elijah Klein Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Klein’s early UTEP years were marked by a steady accumulation of starts and recognition within Conference USA. After his redshirt freshman season in 2018, he played eight games in 2019, starting six at right guard, and then started all eight games at the same position in 2020. That volume of work helped him establish himself as one of the most experienced linemen in the program by the time he reached his upperclassman seasons.
In 2021, Klein started 13 games at right guard and was named honorable mention All-Conference USA, his first postseason recognition at the collegiate level. The honor confirmed his standing as one of the more reliable interior linemen in the conference and set the stage for further accolades in his final two seasons.
Conference USA Recognition (2022–2023)
Klein continued to build on his junior-year success in 2022, starting 12 games at right guard and earning All-Conference USA honorable mention honors for the second consecutive season. His performance in pass protection and run blocking helped anchor an offensive line that relied heavily on his experience.
His senior season in 2023 represented the high point of his college career. He started 12 games and was named first-team All-Conference USA, the highest individual recognition of his UTEP tenure. Following the season, Klein was invited to the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl, giving him a chance to perform in front of NFL scouts. Although he was not selected for the NFL Scouting Combine, his Shrine Bowl participation and his extensive starting resume positioned him as a draftable prospect.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2024–Present)
Klein was selected in the sixth round, 220th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The selection gave him an opportunity to compete for a depth role along an established offensive line, and he has since remained on the Buccaneers’ active roster. His professional career began with a standard rookie development cycle, including training camp, preseason action, and weekly preparation within the team’s offensive line room.
As of the 2025 season, Klein has appeared in 26 NFL games and has one career start, an indication that the Buccaneers view him as a developmental piece with the versatility to contribute in multiple line configurations. His continued presence on the active roster reflects the organization’s confidence in his technique and his readiness to step into larger responsibilities when called upon.
Driving Style and Strengths
As an interior offensive lineman, Klein’s game is built on technique, leverage, and consistency rather than athletic flash. His extensive college starting experience, including 55 games at UTEP, has given him a strong foundation in pass protection sets, run-blocking combinations, and communication with quarterbacks and adjacent linemen. He is listed at 6 ft 4 in and 319 lb, a frame that suits the power demands of the guard position at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Klein’s most significant milestones include his 2023 first-team All-Conference USA selection, his 55 career college starts at UTEP, and his selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. His invitation to the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl further underscored his standing among draft-eligible interior linemen, even in the absence of a Combine invitation.
Elijah Klein Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Elijah Klein’s statistical résumé is measured less in wins and more in games played, games started, and postseason recognition. Across his UTEP career, he started 55 games, the highest total in program history for a player of his position group, and finished with first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2023.
Conference USA Highlights
Klein’s Conference USA highlights include honorable mention All-Conference USA selections in 2021 and 2022, followed by a first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2023. He started 13 games in 2021, 12 games in 2022, and 12 games in 2023, anchoring the right guard position throughout each of those seasons.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Klein was named first-team All-Baseline League as a senior at Upland High School. At the professional level, his most notable performance to date has been his sustained presence on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ active roster and his accumulation of 26 career NFL games with one start.
Elijah Klein Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Elijah Klein’s immediate family is limited. He was born and raised in the Pomona and Mount Baldy area of Southern California, but specific details about his parents and siblings are not broadly documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Klein keeps his personal life largely private, and no publicly confirmed information about a spouse, partner, or children is available. His public presence is primarily tied to his professional football career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Elijah Klein’s second year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his first full season with meaningful game experience on the active roster. After appearing in 26 games with one start during his rookie campaign, Klein enters 2025 with an opportunity to expand his role along the interior offensive line and to compete for additional starting opportunities.
His development will likely be measured by his performance in training camp, his consistency in pass protection, and his ability to contribute on special teams and as a rotational lineman. The Buccaneers’ investment in a sixth-round pick in 2024 suggests a long-term development plan, and 2025 is a critical year for Klein to demonstrate the next phase of his professional growth.
Outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on continued integration into the team’s offensive line schemes, increased practice repetitions, and the possibility of additional starts as the season progresses. With 55 college starts and a year of NFL experience behind him, Klein remains a developmental prospect to watch within the Tampa Bay organization.