Utah State safety Ike Larsen (6) motions to teammates on defense during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State safety Ike Larsen has been selected as the 2023 College Football Network (CFN) Midseason National Safety of the Year, the organization announced this week.
Additionally, Larsen was named to the Midseason All-America First-Team Defense, along with being tabbed the Mountain West Safety of the Year and Midseason MW First-Team Defense by the CFN.
The 5-foot-10 sophomore from Smithfield, Utah, is currently tied for first in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.33 pg), and tied for first in the MW and fourth in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.17 pg).
Larsen also ranks second in the MW and seventh in the nation with three interceptions (0.50 pg), and third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passes defended (1.2 pg).
On the season, Larsen leads Utah State with three interceptions and is tied for first with four pass breakups. He is second on the team with 43 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Along with Larsen, CFN recognized 13 other Aggies, including junior wide receiver Micah Davis, who was tabbed a Midseason First-Team All-MW Specialist at punt returner and an honorable mention all-league pick at wide receiver.
Besides Larsen, Utah State had one other player named to the first team in junior wide receiver Jalen Royals. Six Aggies were selected to the second team in junior running back Davon Booth, senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn, senior offensive lineman Falepule Alo, grad senior linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr., sophomore safety Devin Dye and redshirt junior Anthony Switzer.
Rounding out the Aggie honorees as honorable mention selections were grad senior quarterback Cooper Legas, senior defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka, sophomore inside linebacker Gavin Barthiel, grad senior cornerback Michael Anyanwu and junior placekicker Elliott Nimrod.
The Aggies (3-3, 1-1 MW) return to action on Friday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m., when they host Fresno State (5-1, 1-1 MW) at Maverik Stadium. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. Tickets can be purchased here.
For more information on the Utah State football program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUFootball, on Facebook at USUFootball and on Instagram at USUFootball.
