Football

Another Knott on Iowa State’s radar

By Chris Williams, CycloneFantaic.com Publisher

You can never have too many Knott’s on a football team.

Iowa State is eying another one in its 2012 football recruiting efforts.

The Cyclone coaching staff wrapped up the 2011 class a week ago today. But last Saturday, Iowa State got started on 2012 by hosting a Junior Day for elite prospects across the Midwest.

One of the men in attendance was Luke Knott, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound younger brother of Iowa State’s All-Big 12 linebacker, Jake Knott.

Luke is a dual-threat quarterback from Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West, who threw for 1,810 yards and 18 touchdowns along with 725 rushing yards in route to a state championship as a junior.

“Most of the schools have told me that they’ll give me a shot at quarterback but if that doesn’t work, they will use me at safety or a spot guy,” Knott told CycloneFanatic.com on Tuesday. “I talked with Coach (Tom) Herman when I was up on my Junior Day visit and he told me that they want me as a quarterback.”

On the surface, this one appears to be a slam-dunk for the Cyclones. Iowa State’s best returning player is the recruit’s big brother. But Luke is determined to let the process play out. He’s already visited Kansas and Missouri.  He has also been invited to junior days at Kansas State, Nebraska and Minnesota. Iowa State is the only school that has officially extended Knott a scholarship offer.

“It will be my decision in the end,” Knott said. “I think I am going to try to aim (to commit) for the summer sometime. I want to enjoy my senior season and focus only on the football team. I want to try to win another state title.”

And yes, big brother has and will continue to recruit his sibling to Ames

“He definitely influences things,” Knott said. “Obviously with all of the success that he has had, I want to have that success at a university. It kind of helps knowing that Iowa State is a legit school and that they are 100 percent honest. That’s what they have been with Jake. When you look at that standpoint of things, yeah, he influences me there. In the end, it will be my decision.”

@cyclonefanatic