Cyclone sophomores have taken nearly every snap this fall

AMES - All he was looking for was a quick, easy way of getting around campus, but Jake Knott's moped is serving another purpose these days.

“It saves your legs a little bit,” said the Iowa State linebacker, who is in need of all the rest he can get after playing nearly every defensive snap this season.

Knott and linebacking partner A.J. Klein haven't gotten much time off with the Cyclones' lack of depth at the position. They'll prepare for another long afternoon Saturday at 1 p.m. when ISU (4-4, 2-2 Big 12) plays host to Kansas (2-5, 0-3) at Jack Trice Stadium. Opponents have averaged 86 offensive snaps the last four games.

Coach Paul Rhoads is worried his star sophomore and first-year starters are burning out because of all the action.

“That's very much a concern,” he said. “That's a lot of snaps.”

Rhoads has called off practice the last two Sundays to rest players' weary legs and even replaced those two on ISU's punt team.

Knott and Klein have been well-schooled on how to conserve energy and re-energize their bodies. Staying off their feet is a big thing.

“I sit in my recliner and get a little break whenever I can,” Klein said.

Knott makes sure his calorie count stays consistent and he's in bed at a decent time.

“You can't live the life of a regular college student,” Knott said. “You have to get in bed early, sleep as much as you can, drink as much water as you can during the day. There are a lot of different things.”

ISU's offense moved the ball and sustained drives last week in a win at Texas. Those breaks and the conditioning work since spring were important factors in the win.

Klein was on the field for more than 100 plays in temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees on the field late in the game.

“We could tell the difference in the fourth quarter when the sun came out,” Klein said. “We were plenty faster than (Texas). It's probably the best I've felt in two weeks.”

Talk the talk

The Cyclones are two wins from being bowl eligible a second straight season. That possibility isn't being shied away from around the football complex.

“The expectations of the program moving forward are to win bowl games,” Rhoads said. “That's what college football is all about. I don't mind that they talk about that. That's what they work year-round for.”

Payback time

ISU's defense has plenty of room for improvement after last season's 41-36 loss at Kansas.

The Cyclones allowed 551 yards of offense, 442 of it through the air by KU quarterback Todd Reesing.

“They were finding holes and picking us apart last year,” safety David Sims said.

Reesing and his top receivers have left the program, and the offense has suffered. Still, ISU's defense will be on its toes.

“They are gone but they still have some guys who can pretty much do the same thing,” Sims said. “We can't take them lightly.”