Ike Larsen nominated for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award

DALLAS (FWAA) — Utah State safety Ike Larsen is this week’s nominee for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Larsen, a redshirt junior, has championed mental health and become a resource for others after feeling at his lowest point during the 2021 season.

“I’ve never felt that way. I wanted to like end it all,” Larsen told the Mountain West Network of his mindset. “But I can proudly say now I (sought) help, went to therapy, and I know how to cope in those moments.”

Larsen grew up in the Cache Valley, near Utah State’s Logan campus. In his first season with his hometown school, he was part of a Mountain West Conference championship team. But he was experiencing dark thoughts throughout that year.

His parents, Bret and Joann, had both been hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic. His mother was in a coma for one month, and she spent three months in doctors’ care.

She made a turn for the better, and the Aggies ended up rolling through an 11-3 season. But the weight of everything was taking a toll on Larsen, who broke up with his girlfriend and ended up playing in just one game, preserving his redshirt.

On Dec. 12, just eight days after Utah State won the MWC championship game, Larsen hit his darkest point.

“You get in that mindset, like, OK, it’s over,” Larsen said. “So I pulled the gun out, I got out of the car and then it just hit me, like at that point it hit me: I was like, What am I doing? I still had the gun in my hand, I get on my phone, I haven’t told my parents anything. I called 911, and I’m just bawling at that point, like, I need help.”

First responders helped calm Larsen down. He made a turn for the better, bringing out the best version of himself both on and off the field. He earned second-team All-MWC honors in 2022 and first-team all-conference honors in 2023, recording four interceptions in each season, returning one for a touchdown in each campaign as well.

For his career, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Larsen has 197 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, nine interceptions, 24 passes defended, one forced fumble and five blocked kicks.

He enjoys singing in his free time, and he has made it his mission to help others who struggle in a similar fashion.

“If you’re going through a rough time, please seek help and even text me, please,” Larsen said. “DM me on Instagram. I reply to anybody who texts me.”

He added: “I’ll reply to anybody. You mean so much. You mean a lot. You may not think it at that time because you get in that mindset where it’s like, ‘OK, nothing matters, I’m done.’ But it’s not how it is. You mean a lot.”

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.