Sophomore linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott have spent a lot of time together, both on and off the football field. 

It’s doubtful that their teammates or coaches are complaining.

Bond, chemistry, connection, cohesiveness, familiarity; all of those adjectives could be reasons why the results the two linebackers have produced this season have been nothing short of impressive.

“We’ve been playing together at the same spot for over year now,” Klein said. “With the coaching staff coaching us up, I feel like we know what each other is doing, and off of that we can kind of game plan to suit each others strong points.”

The two linebackers are just an inch apart in height — Klein is 6 feet 1 inch and Knott is  6 feet 2 inches — and are both listed at 240 pounds. Klein has 93 tackles on the season while Knott has 92. The next closest tackle total is safety David Sims’ 71. 

Klein and Knott are even close in number of interceptions on the season with three and four. The two linebackers’ interception numbers lead the team.

While Klein and Knott are no longer roommates as they were during their freshman season under coach Paul Rhoads, they still live right across the street. What free time they have away from football-related activities they spend together, which creates an even stronger bond on the field.

“I think we’ve spent a lot of time together and know each other really well,” Knott said. “Through just hanging out and being in the football offices and lifting together, we know what each other are thinking at times and we know each other’s strong points and weaknesses, so we help each other out any way we can.”

They spend time at each other’s places on weekends playing video games or doing homework. The video game playing includes one of their favorite games — whichever is the latest installment in the “Call of Duty” series.

Knott is the more experienced player of the two, due to his extensive hours spent playing the game when not on the football field.

“Every time I play Xbox, his gamer tag is always showed as signed in,” Klein said. “He’s constantly playing that game.”

Fellow gamers should take caution when playing Knott in the game via the Internet; he has been known to build up 30 kills in a row before going down. By comparison, Klein’s highest total kills in one online game is 31.

Klein and Knott became quick friends off the field, but getting in sync on the football field took a little longer. The reason that took longer came from the maturity standpoint and learning the game at a higher level than in their high school days, and then from game to game in college.

Neither player was a slouch in his freshman campaign, however. Klein recorded 17 tackles and forced a fumble, which he recovered. He had four tackles in the Cyclones’ 9-7 victory over Nebraska. 

Knott finished his freshman season with 23 tackles. He had six-tackle performances against Kent State and Baylor.

From their freshman season to their now-sophomore seasons, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham has seen the biggest improvement in their knowledge of the game.

“It would probably be knowing the overall defense and also in the their pass coverage,” Burnham said. “That shows up because of interceptions they’ve had, tipped balls they’ve had, and their overall knowledge they bring to the field every Saturday is invaluable.”

When they first came into the defensive system under Rhoads and Burnham, it took some time for them to adjust and be able to get to the level that they are at now.

There were a number of things that were new to both of them at the college game from their high school days. Klein had never watched film on an opponent in high school, and Knott spent most of his time as a high school safety instead of a linebacker.

They credit the coaching staff for bringing them along.

“When I first stepped in, my head was spinning,” Knott said. “Coach Rhoads and coach Burnham helped steer me in the right direction. The only reason I can make interceptions or do anything like that is because they told me to be there and I’m just making the play they told me to be there to make. Neither of us are doing anything special, just doing what the coaches told us to do.”

Klein, a Wisconsin native, had other options besides Iowa State, including an opportunity to walk on at Michigan State. The Spartans chose an in-state prospect over Klein, but he doesn’t have any hard feelings.

He feels that he made the right choice by coming to Iowa State and becoming a Cyclone.

“I’m happy that I made the right decision,” Klein said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else besides here. Coach Rhoads seemed like the right fit. The day he called me, Jake can say the same, I had the gut feeling inside that couldn’t go away. I went with it.”

Klein said one of the duo’s strong points is making adjustments with each other during the course of the game. During their first season, they spent most of the time trying to learn their own individual spots, but now they can coach each other and tell each other what they are seeing then make the adjustments.

Burnham isn’t the only one taking notice of the pair’s feel for the game and their instincts. Knott knows his fellow linebacker is one of the smartest people on the football field.

“I’d probably say how smart he is and how physical he is out there,” Knott said of Klein. “His football senses and how he can follow the ball are probably his strongest suits.”

Klein was quick to return the favor, saying he is impressed with Knott’s speed and how fast he plays the game. He credited Knott with always being in the right spot at the right time and the ability to make big plays.

One of the biggest qualities Knott notices about Klein is the fact that he is always eating. Some of Klein’s favorite dishes include steak and potatoes as well as lobster. He also enjoys Jimmy Johns as a snack or a second lunch.

Knott said Klein even brings food to the team meetings. 

Steak, sandwiches and seafood aren’t the only things that feed Klein’s appetite. Both of the linebackers are hungry for more knowledge of the game and to keep growing as football players.

“Both of the kids are very studious football players,” Burnham said. “They work hard in practice every day, they work hard in the film room, so they’re making themselves better. They know the game plan inside out. It’s great for a linebacker to know where his help is in pass coverage and in the run game.

“They’re attitude about getting better and doing good has made them what they are.”