Klein, Knott Named Among Big 12's Top 10 Players

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State linebacking duo A.J. Klein and Jake Knott have each been ranked as one of the top 10 football players at all positions in the Big 12 Conference by Alex Callos, feature college football columnist for bleacher report.
 
Knott, a first-team all-Big 12 selection last season, is ranked 10th on the list with the following description:

"Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott was a tackling machine last season despite playing the entire year with a shoulder injury. He is having surgery to fix the shoulder and will be good to go by the fall.

"Last season, Knott had 114 tackles and was a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Big things are expected this year for the Iowa State defense, and Knott will be at the center of it all."

On A.J. Klein, ranked ninth, Callos says:

"Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Klein will join Jake Knott to form one of the best linebacker groups in the country.

"Klein had 117 tackles in 2011 and will likely improve on that next season. He is the key to the Iowa State defense and one of the best linebackers in the country for 2012."

The rest of the Big 12 list:

8. West Virginia WR Stedman Bailey

7. Oklahoma WR Kenny Stills

6. Texas DE Jackson Jeffcoat

5. Oklahoma State RB Joseph Randle

4. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin

3. Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma

2. Geno Smith, QB West Virginia

1. Collin Klein QB Kansas State

For the entire conference-by-conference list click here.