'09 WI LB/S AJ Klein (Iowa State Verbal)

[Heavystarch]

Rivals



Kimberly (WI) Kimberly

Ht: 6'1"
Wt: 210

Kimberly won the DII state title in 2007, going undefeated
Was first team, All Conference as a junior, per the Post Crescent

Has been in contact with Bob Bostad (Wisconsin) on a regular basis

Offers: Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Wyoming

[Heavystarch]

Rivals $

5/21/08

Iowa State offered and AJ will make the trip to Ames. Wisconsin showing strong interest.

My guess is AJ will get an offer if/when he camps.

[Bernini]

Bonus article on the offer from Marlin......

WSN Football

-On Monday evening, Kimberly linebacker Aaron (A.J.) Klein (6-1, 210) informed WisFootball.net that he had received his first scholarship offer thanks to head coach Gene Chizik and the Iowa State Cyclones......

Also projects Josh Peterson from Cedar Grove to receive a D1 scholarship eventually. The flurry of recent in-state offers was not even prompted by camps like Wisconsin's, so expect news to really heat up in June. The 2009 in-state class is on pace to smash the scholarship numbers of 2008's, and the Badgers will be able to take advantage.

[Bernini]

Klein Highlights:

YouTube - A.J. Klein Highlight Video

My only qualm is his height. He doesn't appear 6'1" to me unless he's grown since. You never know with a lot of these listed heights. Players and coaches embellish because they realize it's to the advantage of the recruit until it can be disproven.

My guess is he's on the short side of 6 feet.

Nevertheless, a lot to be impressed with here. He plays really low to the ground, allowing him to shed blocks better than a player his size typically would. Klein also exhibits a good burst of speed. The closes on the interceptions were excellent. His back peddle, turn and run ability, and ball skills were superior to most Wisconsinite LB's (since we run the football so much here). He recovered well when he got caught out of position (anticipation is OK, but could probably improve) against the run and finished with nastiness.

If the Badgers get him into camp, and he actually is around 6'1", odds are he'd get offered and commit subsequently.

[Bernini]

Scout $

Besides his offers, he's highest on Wisconsin and Michigan State. Also receiving interest from Northwestern and Indiana. Plans to camp at Wisconsin and potentially Northwestern. Grew up a Badger fan.

[Marlins]

Offerd by Northern Illinois today. So now holding offers from Iowa State, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.

[Bernini]

A virtual lock for a camp offer?

There aren't an exorbitant amount of top linebackers who have strong interest in UW. Jordan Barnes and Conor O'Neill have at least shown a modicum of interest, but that's about it I think. Also, last year we only took 2 LB's out of 24 commits. Same went for 2007. We need 3 LB signings in 2009, IMO.

[Heavystarch]

Rivals $

6/19/08

Klein reflects on his camp at UW. Did not come away with an offer, but the staff told him to be patient. Came away with a Wyoming offer before camp started.

Slow playing everyone...

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by Bernini

A virtual lock for a camp offer?

There aren't an exorbitant amount of top linebackers who have strong interest in UW. Jordan Barnes and Conor O'Neill have at least shown a modicum of interest, but that's about it I think. Also, last year we only took 2 LB's out of 24 commits. Same went for 2007. We need 3 LB signings in 2009, IMO.

I think Claxton will eventually end up at linebacker as will maybe a couple of our safety prospects.

[HotMic]

Scout $

7/21

From the MSU site. Klein says he has soft spot in his heart for Wisconsin, and is alos interested in Michigan State. Michigan State has told him that they will see what guys ahead of him do before making an offer. He will now wait until after his season to commit.

[Bernini]

Rivals: Wisconsin Preps ($)

8/2
by Bob Kieckbush

Klein has announced he will be attending Iowa State next fall.

which will change if the Badgers offer after losing out on a few LB's higher on their board like Goodlow.

[Bernini]

I know Iowa State has an inferior football program and it's only spring practice, but it's looking like Kimberly's head coach had a legitimate reason to be annoyed at us spurning Klein and thus steering Hardy elsewhere this cycle. Klein has already cracked the 2-deep on a defense that only employs 2 LB's (5 DB's in their base), and both 1st-teamers are returning senior starters. So he's essentially equivalent to a starter there already.

Originally Posted by wcfcourier

3.) Freshman A.J. Klein was the early star of preseason camp. Klein, a 6-1, 234-pounder who wears No. 47, flew around the field at practice, and especially displayed athleticism when producing a ‘pick-six’ on a Jerome Tiller pass over the middle late in practice. Klein’s play drew a rave review from Coach Rhoads.
“A.J. Klein stuck out to me,” Rhoads said of the Kimberly, Wis., native. “He got off blocks, tackled with great angles. He moved well.”

Originally Posted by "DesMoinesRegister

It's Christmas break. A.J. Klein's phone rings.

Who'd be phoning at this time, he wondered, not immediately recognizing the number.

None other than Paul Rhoads, seeking the first recruiting save of his infant Iowa State football coaching career.

"That was special of him to call me," Klein said. "I told him I was 100 percent committed."

And now, Klein enters the second week of two-a-days as one of the early stars of camp. He's already up to No. 2 middle linebacker, behind Jesse Smith, on the depth chart. Not bad for a guy who was preparing for his final high school season a year ago.

"The thing that puts him ahead a little bit is that he understands the position," Rhoads said of the 6-foot-1, 234-pounder. "He gets it. He understands how to body up receivers, and he understands how to pick gaps."

Klein, who turned 18 in July, moved ahead of transfer Matt Taufoou "because Matt's missed a little practice with a hamstring (injury)," Rhoads said.

"A.J. he's committed to learning everything there is to know about how to play the position very well."
Klein committed to former Cyclone coach Gene Chizik, but wavered when Chizik took the Auburn job last December.

"Once Chizik left, I was iffy," Klein said after practice Friday. "He had me shut down my recruiting. I told a lot of other big schools that I had made my decision and I wasn't changing my mind.

"But when Chizik left, I opened it up again."

Thus the save.

"He was sniffing around a little," Rhoads said. "His was one of the first tapes I watched, and right away, I knew he'd be a perfect fit for our system.
"I called him and gave him my word that he would be the first person I'd visit."

So Rhoads got on a small plane and flew into a small airport near Klein's home in Appleton, Wis.

"I flew into the airport up there, and there was a mountain of snow on that tarmac," Rhoads said. "It was the biggest mountain of snow I'd seen, other than being in the Rocky Mountains."

The trip was worth it.

"It's not easy for a freshman to play linebacker at this level, but A.J. can do it," Rhoads said. "It's one of the three hardest positions for a freshman to play, quarterback excluded."


Playing the line both sides of the ball is the toughest, Rhoads said, because of going against strong, veteran players.

"But the linebacker," Rhoads said, "has to know more than anybody on the field.

"They have to play the run fast, and they have to play the pass fast. You have to know it all, and you have to be physical enough to stand up.

"Physically, A.J.'s big enough, fast enough, and strong enough to play as a freshman."