Mountain West Honors USU Safety Ike Larsen With Weekly Awards
Nov 14, 2022, 10:43 AM
USU safety Ike Larsen is returning to the Aggie defense after serving a suspension to begin the season. (Courtesy Utah State football)
(Courtesy Utah State football)
LOGAN, Utah – Redshirt-freshman safety Ike Larsen put the Aggie defense on his shoulders Saturday night, helping Utah State to a 41-34 win over Hawai’i.
For his work, Larsen has been named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week
HUGE Saturday night for @IkeLarsen19!
MW Defensive Player of the Week ✅
MW Freshman of the Week✅➡️ https://t.co/rotYI95W1S#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/PXh0mcYuhm
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 14, 2022
Finishing with six tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack, it was the big play ability of the young safety that stood out.
Late in the fourth quarter with Utah State leading by 10, Larsen, seemingly running the pass route intended for the Hawai’i receiver, stepped in front of a Brayden Schager pass.
Larsen then turned on the jets, sprinting 36-yards for the back-breaking touchdown that ended up being the game winner.
IKE FREAKING LARSEN!!!!@IkeLarsen19 pick 6️⃣‼️#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ANGrbFLeTv
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
“That’s just a game plan deal,” Larsen said about his game winning interception. “We read the receiver splits all week, so when the time came I saw it and jumped the route.”
Earlier in the game, Larsen used his speed in space to track down USU’s first turnover of day.
“Every week he just gets better,” head coach Blake Anderson said. “He just plays better every week and tends to be calm in the moment at the most critical times. That was a game that was uncomfortably close, and the pick-six came at a huge time. Just a critical play.”
2/3 of the earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by @IkeLarsen19!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/dKQ798U0Lw
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
The future for Larsen is limitless.
“He has a phenomenal career ahead of him. Glad he is wearing our colors,” Anderson said. “Can’t wait to see how he progresses, grows and develops.”
About Ike Larsen
Larsen burst on the scene for the Aggies when he picked up a sack of Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young and blocked a punt in a Utah State blowout loss at Alabama.
These plays, along with interceptions in each of USU’s first two games showed that Larsen was ready for major college football after sitting out his initial season with the Aggies as a redshirt.
Congratulations to the #MWFB Players of the Week 🏈
🔴 @AztecFB
🐮 @USUFootball
🎰 @unlvfootball#AtThePEAK | #GoAztecs | #AggiesAllTheWay | #BEaREBEL pic.twitter.com/glaQA1uxmr— Mountain West (@MountainWest) November 14, 2022
Before he donned Aggie blue, Larsen played his prep football in the shadow of Utah State’s Maverik Stadium, just a few miles away in neighboring Smithfield, UT at Sky View High School.
Larsen won two 4A state championships with the Bobcats while being featured in every facet of the game.
As a senior, Larsen was named first team all-state by MaxPreps.com and the Deseret News. The defensive back contributed 55 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. As a wide receiver/gadget player, Larsen caught 24 passes for 565 yards and five touchdowns. He also carried the ball 19 times for 197 yards and four scores.
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Up Next
Utah State (5-5, 4-2) return home where they will host the San Jose State Spartans (6-3, 4-2) at Maverik Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. (MDT).
Every Utah State football game can be heard on the KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.
Coverage of Utah State University Athletics from KSL Sports can be found here.
