It's easy to see why Marshawn Kneeland and Corey Walker are like two identical books on the defensive line for Western Michigan University.

And they are books in which head coach Lance Taylor and defensive line coach David Denham love to read.

Opponents…not so much.

Kneeland, a redshirt junior from Grand Rapids, is 6-foot, 3-inches tall and 275 pounds. Walker is two inches taller at 6-5, but five pounds lighter at 270 pounds. Both will be starting in Tuesday night's rivalry game against Central Michigan (5-4 overall, 3-2 Mid-American Conference West Division) which starts at 7 p.m.

Coming into the season, Kneeland, a redshirt junior, was the known product on the line. Last season, he played in nine games before being injured, but in those nine games, he had 37 tackles with 10 of them for losses. He also had 1.5 sacks. In fact, in 2021, he played in all 13 games with 32 tackles and 7.5 tackles for losses.

''Coming into this year, I felt it would be a pretty good one,'' he said. ''Last year, I didn't have a bad year, but everyone kept telling me I was good. I kept thinking I could do more.

''This year, my pass rush has definitely improved and I'm getting a little more respect.''

The respect is showed by all the double-team blocks which he has to fight through during the game. That means Walker is only seeing single blocks.

''For us, that's nice to see because both can rush the passer and only one of them will be doubled,'' Denham said.

Added Kneeland: ''I get double-teamed and chip-blocked a lot more, but it's now to the point where I have to learn how to beat the double team and still get sacks. The better Corey does, the better I can do…and the better I do, the better Corey can be.''

Walker admits that the EMU game was one of his best, getting the fumble recovery for a touchdown, breaking up a pass and getting to the quarterback once.

Kneeland was part of a defense which did a job on Central Michigan's offense last season in the snowy 12-10 WMU victory. The Broncos allowed just 159 yards on the ground and 94 through the air. They also gave up just 10 first downs. Kneeland had two solo tackles and one assist while Walker didn't play in the game.

Walker barely saw the field last season because he was playing behind veterans like Andre Carter and Braden Fiske. This season, WMU was looking for another defensive end to take the constant pressure Kneeland would get.

Enter the Normal, Ill., product.

''When I recruited Corey, I knew what we had coming into Western Michigan, and he has gradually gotten better and better,'' Denham said. ''During this past spring ball, you saw the light come on, then in the summer he worked real hard.''

The hard work has paid off in that last year's Academic All-MAC player as a freshman has now started all nine games this season and has nine solo tackles and 12 assisted tackles with five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Walker admits his first start in the season opener against St. Francis was special.

''When I heard my name called on the big screen at the stadium, it was surreal,'' he said. ''I got real emotional.''

Which it should have been.

''Last year, besides being behind some good guys, I broke my foot in spring ball and I had another injury later on,'' Walker said. ''The journey to be a starter hasn't been a straight line.

''I wasn't able to run much in the offseason because of my injuries, but I could lift and get strong. Definitely, more things are coming to me during the games.''

Kneeland can tell Walker about how to come back from injuries. Kneeland played in nine games last year and then was hampered with a calf injury.

''You have a big brother, little brother situation with those two,'' Denham said. ''Big brother is hard on little brother, but little brother will hold big brother accountable as well.

''When you have leaders in the room, whether they are four or five-year guys or guys who are playing in their first year starting, it makes them easy to coach.''

The two ends are always talking to each other during a game or in practice. It's a carryover from when Walker was being recruited.

''Marshawn was my mentor when I was being recruited,'' Walker said.

One thing they can talk about is each of them has a touchdown this season. Kneeland scored on a one-yard run when he was inserted at fullback against St. Francis. Walker had a TD in the 45-21 victory over Eastern Michigan on Oct. 28 when he picked up a fumble and ran three yards for the score.

Now it's on to the rivalry game against Central Michigan, where several things are on the line. There is the Cannon Trophy for the winner of the WMU-CMU game, the Michigan MAC Trophy for the team which beats both CMU and EMU, and if the Broncos win their final three games, they will be bowl eligible.

''I definitely want to have a role in getting the Cannon Trophy and the Michigan MAC trophy,'' Walker said.

Added Denham: ''I tell the defensive line guys all the time, nothing is going to be handed to you in life. You have to work for it and they have taken that and run with it.''

Or in the case of Kneeland and Walker, they have run to the quarterback with it.