Utah State Defensive Anchor Declares For NFL Draft After Stellar Career
Jan 6, 2026, 3:09 PM
Utah State safety Ike Larsen will enter the 2026 NFL Draft (Photo courtesy of Wade Denniston and Utah State Athletics)
(Photo courtesy of Wade Denniston and Utah State Athletics)
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State safety Ike Larsen has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the next chapter in his football journey.
“These past five years have truly been a blessing. Not only did I have the chance to play the game I love, but I also learned my degree and gained valuable life lessons that will guide me and help me succeed in the next chapter of my journey,” Larsen wrote on social media.
The Cache Valley native’s gratitude comes after a standout career that cemented him in USU lore and made him a true defensive anchor.
Utah State Football 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker
John 13:7 pic.twitter.com/U1uNQj1Wz0
— Ike Larsen (@IkeLarsen19) January 5, 2026
Larsen reflected on his five-year journey, calling it “a blessing” to build a lasting legacy in Cache Valley.
He went on to thank the USU teammates and friends for his experience with the Aggies.
Good to see Ike Larsen get himself an INT again.
This dude was as good as anyone in the country at safety a couple seasons ago.
This is his TENTH (10) pick of his Utah State career. He had 8 INTs in 2022-23.
Definitely a guy to watch in NFL draft.
pic.twitter.com/TleSfeTTkl— Garrett Armbrust (@4thandsaturday) December 22, 2025
“To all the friends I’ve made and the teammates I’ve shared the field with—thank you. I cherished every moment with you, and I’m grateful for the friendships we’ve built, ones that will last a lifetime,” he concluded. “With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”
With his college days over, Larsen shifts his focus to preparing for April’s NFL Draft.
Hard-hitting safety Ike Larsen headed to the NFL
The former Logan and Sky View all-around gridiron talent began his Utah State career with an abundance of speed, but needed to add muscle to withstand the college football pounding.
Five years later, Larsen has become a thumper at the back end of the secondary while maintaining elite athleticism and burst.
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
He patrolled USU’s defensive backfield for 46 games since 2021, registering 163 tackles, including 12 career takedowns behind the line of scrimmage, and a forced fumble.
Larsen added ten career interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The 5’11, 195-pound Larsen defended ten passes in 2023 and 2024, finishing with 32 in his career.
He was a menace on special teams early in his Aggie career, setting a program record with five blocked kicks.
Larsen was named Second-Team All-Mountain West in 2022 and First-Team All-Mountain West the following season.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
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