Lights? Camera? Only actions matter to ISU's A.J. Klein and Jake Knott

AMES - When A.J. Klein speaks of bright lights, he's talking about the ones that burn internally.

The Iowa State senior linebacker - four months removed from attaining Big 12 Conference co-defensive player of the year honors - shunts outside praise aside.

So what if he's considered one-half of the best linebacking duo in the Big 12, along with the other half, oft-injured, but hard-nosed Jake Knott?

He aims to prove it.

Again.

“It's a natural progression,” Knott said of the defense in general. “It's a mentality of we are the best defense on the field no matter who we're playing. So as far as the recognition and stuff, it really doesn't matter to us. We're just looking to improve.”

Simply stated.

Hard to achieve.

Klein, of Kimberly, Wis., totaled 116 tackles last season, including 15 stops in the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers.

Knott notched 115 tackles despite being pained by a dislocated shoulder that required offseason surgery.

“This will be the first summer I really won't be hampered by anything, so I'll be going into fall camp 100 percent,” said Knott, a senior who is limited to lifting and running this spring. “That's really inspiring to me to be able to say that, to be able to show what I have right away.”

An eventually healthier Knott leads to loftier expectations.

Only a handful of FBS teams - including Wisconsin, which saw Mike Taylor and Chris Borland combine for a staggering 293 tackles, fielded a more productive and punishing linebacker duo last season.

And help is on the way for Klein and Knott.

Sophomore Jevohn Miller and junior Jeremiah George continue to progress at the position and sophomore C.J. Morgan can contribute more as a hybrid linebacker/safety.

“I think we can come along quite a bit,” Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads said. “Are we the 2012 defense we expect to be? Well, no, because we're without not only Jake, but (cornerback) Jeremy Reeves, (defensive end Roosevelt) Maggitt - guys who are going to be right in the mix of what we're doing.”

Rhoads joked that coaches have to hide Knott's helmet to avoid any pad-pounding mishaps this spring.

Knott's biding his time, cleared by the team doctor to work on his body - not take on blockers.

“(He) said I'm pretty much good to go,” Knott said. “Just don't do anything stupid.”

That's unlikely.

He and Klein adhere to a hype-less approach to personal development.

No frills.

All skills.

“It's not just keeping the light on, but keeping the light on and making it brighter,” Klein said. “That's a good analogy for it. Just taking it day by day. Coach (Wally) Burnham's coaching us up real good in the meeting rooms with film and everything. Right now we just want to work on tackling technique and footwork. All the things that are important to the game.”