LOGAN, Utah – Utah State sophomore safety Ike Larsen has been named to the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, it was announced Thursday by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association.
 
Larsen is one of 35 defensive backs selected to the watch list, including one of four players from the Mountain West, along with Colorado State's Jack Howell, Air Force's Trey Taylor and Cameron Stone of Hawai'i.
 
Additionally, Larsen is one of two players from the Beehive State to make the watch list, joining Utah's Cole Bishop.
 
Larsen was named a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American and a second-team all-Mountain West selection last year as he played in 11 games with four starts. He finished the 2023 campaign with 33 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, to go along with a team-best four interceptions, a school-record three blocked punts, two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
 
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Smithfield, Utah, ended the season tied for first in the nation with his three blocked kicks. He was also third in the MW and 22nd in the nation with his four picks. Overall, Larsen was also the only player in the nation that had four interceptions, three blocked kicks and a defensive touchdown last season. 
 
Larsen was the highest-rated defensive back in the MW and ranked No. 7 nationally with an overall grade of 89.9 percent, according to ProFootballFocus, and was the best pass coverage defensive back in the MW with a grade of 87.2 percent.
 
For the season, Larsen allowed just nine receptions for 56 yards on 22 targets with no touchdowns and four interceptions, and quarterbacks had a rating of 9.1 when throwing at him.
 
Larsen was also named to the Mountain West's preseason all-conference team, and is a preseason first-team all-MW selection by Athlon Sports and a second-team all-MW selection by Phil Steele.
 
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
 
The preseason watch list was selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
 
Utah State opens the 2023 season at Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 2, while its home opener is the following weekend against Idaho State on Saturday, Sept. 9. USU begins Mountain West play at Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 16.

Season ticket renewals are currently being accepted. To renew, fans should visit www.utahstateaggies.com, or do so in person or by phone through the USU Ticket Office during regular business hours (435-797-0305). New season ticket orders can also be made.
 
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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