A.J. Klein was shooting pool in his basement at his home in Kimberly, Wis., on Saturday, April 27, 2013, during the third day of the 2013 NFL Draft, waiting for his phone to ring.

But it didn’t.

It was his dad’s phone that rang with an NFL team on the other end: the Carolina Panthers were taking him with the No. 15 pick (148th overall) in the fifth round.

“Words can’t begin to describe how I feel right now and the sense of relief I have, and I think it’s going to be a great place and a great fit for me,” Klein said.

Klein now joins former ISU offensive lineman Hayworth Hicks as a member of the Panthers. Klein is the first linebacker taken from Iowa State in the fifth round since Alvin Bowen was taken No. 147 overall in 2008 and Tim Dobbins was taken No. 151 in 2006.

Despite receiving interest from almost every team in the NFL at one point or another, Klein made visits to the Houston Texans, Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers. Klein said he was a little surprised by the Panthers picking him.

“I didn’t talk to them the most, but obviously I knew they showed interest at East/West and Combine and Pro Day,” Klein said. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter where I go; I just got very fortunate. I’m very excited to end up in Carolina.”

Klein will likely join the Panthers as a backup to one of the strongest corps of linebackers in the NFL with Thomas Davis, John Beason and most recently, Luke Kuechly.

At the 2013 NFL Combine in February, ESPN’s Todd McShay and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King both mentioned Kuechly when they were asked what type of linebacker someone with Klein’s build and ability can be. Kuechly was taken No. 9 overall by the Panthers last year and was also named the AP 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

McShay also said the best chance for Klein to make an immediate impact would be on special teams.

“You’ve got to get down the field and you’ve got to cover kicks and you’ve got to be an animal, you’ve got to make that your mentality,” McShay said at the NFL Combine. “And the longer you can do that, the longer you’re around, guys get injured in front of you, things happen, you get opportunities.”

With veteran players in front of him at all linebacker positions, Klein knows he will need to make his impact on special teams in his first year.

“Obviously, special teams is how you make your money as a rookie,” Klein said. “I’m just going to do all I can to get on the field early and I think special teams is my best way to do that.”

For now, he will travel back to Ames before flying out of Des Moines to the Panthers facility in Charlotte, N.C., for Rookie Mini Camp, starting May 11.