AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State linebacking duo of A.J. Klein and Jake Knott are part of the reason that the Cyclones’ linebackers are rated second nationally as a group by Lindy’s College Football Preview. Both were named as first-team All-Big 12 selections.  Klein was voted second-team All-American.

“Arguably the two best linebackers in the Big 12 – and one of the most productive tandems in the nation – play in Ames. Senior A.J. Klein (116 tackles, 7.5 for loss) was the Big 12’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and senior Jake Knott (115 tackles, four forced fumbles) was also a first-team All-Big 12 pick.”

Klein is rated as the second-best inside linebacker nationally and Knott the seventh-best outside linebacker in the country.

LINDY’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2012 PREVIEW

Top 10 Linebackers

1. Georgia
2. IOWA STATE
3. Alabama
4. Stanford
5. Wisconsin
6. Oregon
7. Penn State
8. Michigan State
9. Florida
10. USC

Top Inside Linebackers

1. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, Sr.
2. A.J. KLEIN, IOWA STATE, Sr.
3. Chris Borland, Wisconsin, Jr.
4. Arthur Brown, Kansas State, Sr.
5. C.J. Mosley, Alabama, Jr.
6. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina, Sr.
7. Alec Ogletree, Georgia, Jr.

Top Outside Linebackers

1. Jarvis Jones, Georgia, Sr.
2. Gerald Hodges, Penn State, Sr.
3. Chase Thomas, Sr. Stanford
4. Khaseem Greene, Rutgers, Sr.
5. Jonathan Brown, Illinois, Jr.
6. Mike Mike Taylor, Wisconsin, Sr.
7. JAKE KNOTT, Iowa State, Sr.