Utah State loses defensive leader to team suspension

Ike Larsen Photo by Wade Denniston/USU Athletics

Utah State football fans received tough news this past weekend, as All-Mountain West preseason selection and defensive leader Ike Larsen has been suspended six weeks for violation of team rules.

The Aggies officially announced the suspension on Friday, August 15. Larsen will be sidelined for the start of the 2025 season and will miss key matchups against UTEP, Texas A&M, Air Force, McNee State and possibly Vanderbilt as well. 

A Sky View High School product and one of Utah’s top recruits in 2022, Larsen quickly became a defensive cornerstone for the Aggies. Last season, the 5’10, 195-pound free safety started 11 of 12 games, racking up 80 tackles, a team high nine pass breakups and one interception,

The suspension also might mean that Larsen will not be able to practice with the team until September 26th when the suspension is lifted – just one day before the Vanderbilt game.

Larsen’s spot could be filled by Omari Okeke, who has played 17 games with the program since 2022.

Utah State opens the 2025 season at home against UTEP on August 30, but it’ll be without one of their key defensive leaders on the field.  

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