LOGAN, Utah – Utah State junior safety Ike Larsen was named a College Football Network (CFN) Preseason Third-Team All-American, while senior wide receiver Jalen Royals was named an Honorable Mention All-American as the publication announced its 2024 preseason all-Mountain West teams on Monday. In all, USU had eight players earn various all-MW honors.
 
About the Players
Larsen, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound safety from Smithfield, Utah (Sky View HS) was named a CFN Honorable Mention All-American in 2023 and earned first-team all-MW honors as he started all 13 games. He finished the year with 103 tackles (58-solo, 45-assist), which were the second-most on the team, and he became the 65th player in school history to have 100-plus tackles in a season. He also had 4.5 tackles for loss, to go along with a team-high four interceptions and a team-best two blocked kicks, while adding six pass breakups, which were the second-most on the team, and one forced fumble. He finished the year with five double-digit tackle outings.
 
Larsen, who was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week twice and the MW Special Teams Player of the Week once during the 2023 season, finished the year ranking first in the MW and fourth in the nation with two blocked kicks, tied for first in the MW and eighth in the nation with one defensive touchdown, third in the MW and 19th in the nation with four interceptions, eighth in the MW in passes defended with 10 (0.77 pg), and eighth in the MW and 56th in the nation in tackles (7.9 pg).
 
Royals, a 6-0, 195-pounder from Powder Spring, Georgia (Hillgrove HS/Georgia Military College) earned CFN Third Team All-American and first team all-MW honors last year as he finished the season with 71 receptions for 1,080 yards (15.2 ypr/83.1 ypg) and a school-record 15 touchdowns. Overall, he is just the 13th player in school history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and his 1,080 receiving yards are the 10th-most in school history, while his 71 receptions are tied for the 10th most and his 15 total touchdowns are tied for the eighth most.
 
In fact, Royals led the nation with seven touchdown catches of at least 50 yards on the year. For the season, he ranked first in the MW and second in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 15 (1.2 pg), third in the MW and 24th in the nation in receiving (83.1 ypg), fifth in the MW and 38th in the nation in receptions (5.5 pg), seventh in the MW and 64th in the nation in scoring (7.2 ppg), and seventh in the MW and 88th in the nation in yards per reception (15.2).
 
Larsen was also named the CFN Preseason MW Safety of the Year, while Larsen and Royals were both named to the first team.
 
Utah State had three players named preseason second-team all-MW in senior defensive end Blaine Spires, senior punter Stephen Kotsanlee and junior cornerback Avante Dickerson. Aggies named to the third team included graduate senior tight end Broc Lane and junior linebacker Cole Joyce, while senior running back Rahsul Faison was named to the honorable mention team.
 
Other Preseason Honors
Along with being named a CFN Preseason Third-Team All-American, Larsen was also named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (awarded annually to the best defensive back in the nation), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (awarded annually the best defensive player in the nation), and was named to the preseason all-MW team by Phil Steele (first team), Athlon Sports (first team) and MW media.
 
Royals was also named a Phil Steele Preseason Fourth Team All-American, to the Maxwell Award Watch List (given annually to the top receiver in the nation), the Shirne Bowl Watch List, and was named to the preseason all-MW team by Phil Steele (first team), Athlon Sports (first team) and MW media.
 
Kotsanlee was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List (given annually to the top punter in the nation) and was named to the preseason all-MW third team by Athlon Sports.
 
Dickerson and Spires were both named to the preseason all-MW second team by Athlon Sports, while Lane was named to the second team by Phil Steele and the third team by Athlon Sports. And Faison was named to the preseason second team by Athlon Sports and to the third team by Phil Steele.
 
Fall Schedule
Utah State opens the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, as it hosts Robert Morris and begins Mountain West play at Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 5.
 
Ticket Information
Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2024 season are on sale now. Purchase your tickets today to guarantee your seat for the return of the 'Battle of the Brothers' on Saturday, September 14th. To purchase visit utahstateaggies.com or call the ticket office at 435-797-0305.
 
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Fans can follow the Aggie football program with behind-the-scenes content and coverage on social media through X, Instagram and Facebook, along with visiting www.utahstateaggies.com.
 
Utah State Players – College Football Network 2024 Preseason All-Americans
Third Team
Ike Larsen, S
 
Honorable Mention
Jalen Royals, WR
 
Utah State Players – College Football Network 2024 Preseason All-Mountain West
First Team
Ike Larsen, S (Safety of the Year)
Jalen Royals, WR
 
Second Team
Avante Dickerson, CB
Stephen Kotsanlee, P
Blaine Spires, DE
 
Third Team
Broc Lane, TE
Cole Joyce, LB
 
Fourth Team
Rahsul Faison, RB
 
- USU -