Local Defensive Back Ike Larsen Is ‘Most Experienced’ Defender Utah State Has
Aug 14, 2025, 10:21 AM
Utah State safety Ike Larsen was named to the 2025 KSL Sports Zone Hans & Scotty G. 60 in 60 watchlist.(Courtesy of Garett Graf / USU Athletics)
(Courtesy of Garett Graf / USU Athletics)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah State safety Ike Larsen looks to bounce back from a down year, by his standards, to lead the Aggies’ defense into 2025.
Larsen is next on the 2025 KSL Sports Zone Hans & Scotty G. 60 in 60 watchlist.
“Ike Larsen is the most experienced and seasoned, and probably productive defender that Utah State has that I inherited,” Mendenhall said.
RELATED: Hans & Scotty’s 2025 60 In 60 List
An injury in the spring limited Larsen to three practices, but that setback hasn’t lowered the expectations the first-year head coach has for his senior DB.
“Ike was hurt in the spring,” Mendenhall warned. “So he’s recovering from an injury. I think Ike, pending his recovery and his inclusion in our system, just what I saw in three practices, he’s certainly capable. He’s proven that he can make plays in this league from past experience.”
About Utah State’s Ike Larsen
A prep standout at nearby Sky View High School, Larsen joined the Aggies in 2021.
247Sports.com rated Larsen the 24th-best recruit in Utah after his senior season with the Bobcats. MaxPreps.com named him first-team all-state as a defensive back after he registered 55 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He also blocked nine kicks on special teams and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Larsen’s athleticism was evident every time he touched the football. He caught 24 passes for 565 yards and five scores while carrying the ball 19 times for 197 yards and four TDs.
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Utah State Safety Ike Larsen is more concerned with the legacy he's leaving in Logan than with money to transfer elsewhere.@IkeLarsen19
Full interview: https://t.co/qaMCyetSgw pic.twitter.com/orahsRjz8Z
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 4, 2025
Larsen earned second-team all-state recognition following his junior season at Logan High. He ended the season with 35 catches for 548 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he added 62 tackles, picked off seven passes, and broke up seven others. He finished the year with ten touchdowns, scoring on offense, defense, and special teams.
He has been a dynamic defender and playmaker since stepping on the field for Utah State in 2022.
The 5’10, 195-pound safety ended 2023 with 103 tackles (4.5 TFLs), becoming the 65th player in program history to record a 100-tackle season. He had five double-digit tackle games. Larsen led the Aggies with four INTs and two blocked kicks, adding six pass breakups and a forced fumble.
He started 11 of 12 games in 2024, finishing with 80 tackles, a team-high nine pass breakups, and one INT.
Larsen has played 37 games at Utah State (28 starts). He has 217 career tackles, two sacks, nine interceptions, and a school record five blocked kicks.
What is the 60 in 60?
Hans and Scotty highlight college football players in the state of Utah with their annual 60 in 60 watchlist.
Check back after the 2025 College Football season to see the final 60 in 60 list.
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