LOGAN, Utah – Utah State safety Ike Larsen earned a spot on the 2022 College Football News (CFN) Freshman All-American Team, it was announced Tuesday by the organization.

Larsen garnered honorable mention accolades from CFN to become just the fourth player in school history to earn Freshman All-America honors, along with defensive back Jalen Davis (2014), linebacker Kyler Fackrell (2012) and kickoff returner Kevin Robinson (2004).

Larsen is also one of 12 Mountain West players named a CFN Freshman All-American, along with New Mexico safety A.J. Haulcy (first team), Boise State quarterback Taylen Green (second team), Wyoming offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon (second team), Boise State offensive lineman Mason Randolph (second team), Boise State punter James Ferguson-Reynolds (second team), Wyoming defensive end Oluwaseyi Omotosho (third team), Nevada linebacker Drue Watts (third team), Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen (honorable mention), Wyoming defensive end Braden Siders (honorable mention), Colorado State defensive end Grady Kelly (honorable mention) and Hawai'i safety Peter Manuma (honorable mention).

Just last week, Larsen was one of three Aggies named to the all-MW second team. The redshirt freshman from Smithfield, Utah, who set the single-season school record for blocked punts with three, was one of just seven underclassmen, including one of only three freshmen, in the conference to earn first- or second-team all-conference honors this year.

Larsen is the first Utah State freshman since Fackrell, and just the 12th freshman in school history, to earn first- or second-team all-conference accolades. He is also just the fifth Aggie defensive back to earn first- or second-team all-MW honors and first since Jontrell Rocquemore was also named to the second team in 2018.

The following is a look at what Larsen has accomplished in his break-out season with the Aggies:

• He is the only player in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, regardless of classification, that has four interceptions, three blocked kicks and a defensive touchdown.

• According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he is the highest-rated defensive back in the MW and No. 7 nationally with an overall grade of 89.9%. In fact, that grade is the second-highest among any player in the league. He also ranks as the best pass coverage defensive back in the Mountain West with a grade of 87.2%.

• Has allowed just nine receptions for 56 yards on 22 targets this year with no touchdowns and four interceptions, and quarterbacks have a QB rating of 9.1 when throwing at him.

• Is one of just eight freshmen in the nation at the FBS level to return an interception for a touchdown.

• His four interceptions are tied for the third-most in school history by a freshman.

• Named the MW Defensive Player of the Week and the MW Freshman of the Week on Nov. 14, after recording a career-high two interceptions and returning one 36 yards for a touchdown in a win at Hawai'i in his third start of the season. He also had six tackles, including a career-high-tying 1.0 sacks and a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss against the Rainbow Warriors. His fourth-quarter interception proved to be the deciding points in the game.

• Named the MW Freshman of the Week on Sept. 5, after posting a then-career-high seven tackles, to go along with an interception and a blocked punt, at then-No. 1 Alabama.

• Leads Utah State with four interceptions and three blocked punts, and is tied for the team lead with one defensive touchdown. He is also tied for third on the team with 2.0 sacks. Overall, he has 34 tackles, which includes 3.0 tackles for loss, to go along with two pass breakups.

Larsen and the Aggies (6-6) will conclude their season on Tuesday, Dec. 27, when they take on Memphis (6-6) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The game, which is slated to kick off at 1:15 p.m. (MT), will be televised live on ESPN.

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.

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