AMES, Iowa – Iowa State linebackers Jake Knott and A.J. Klein have been named to the 2012 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. The award is presented annually to the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity. An individual’s character and off-the-field excellence are considered along with their play on the field.
A total of 42 of the most accomplished student-athletes have been nominated. The only other schools with two players on the list are Wisconsin, Texas, LSU and Florida State. Iowa State returns the best linebacker duo in the nation in Klein, the 2011 Big 12 Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year and Knott, a 2011 first-team All-Big 12 honoree. Klein was second in the Big 12 with 116 tackles last season and was at his best against the best, posting 14 tackles in Iowa State’s win over No. 2 Oklahoma State. Knott was third in the league with 115 stops.
