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Utah State suspends standout safety Ike Larsen

The Smithfield native started 11 games and made 80 tackles in 2024.

(Tyler Tate | AP) Utah State safety Ike Larsen (6) motions to teammates on defense during on Oct. 7, 2023 in Logan.

Utah State University has suspended senior safety Ike Larsen, according to a university spokesperson.

“Ike Larsen has been placed on a short-term suspension from the USU Football team for a violation of team rules, effective today, Aug. 15, 2025,” the spokesperson said.

It’s unclear how long the suspension is, but the loss is a big one for the Aggies and head coach Bronco Mendenhall. In three seasons, Larsen has started 28 games and played in 37 overall contests.

Larsen has 217 career tackles, two sacks and nine tackles for loss. He also has nine interceptions for 169 return yards, 17 pass breakups, two touchdowns and five blocked kicks.

The Smithfield, Utah, native started in 11 games in 2024, garnering 80 tackles — which was second on the team — and a team-high nine pass breakups on the season.

The junior safety was also an All-American honorable mention and first-team All Mountain West selection in 2023. With Larsen missing time, the Aggies’ defense will have a major hole to fill in the secondary.

USU’s defense ranked last in the Mountain West Conference a season ago.

The Aggies are scheduled to open their season on Aug. 30 against UTEP.

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