Casey Larkin’s high school highlight video immediately caught the attention of Army defensive coordinator Nate Woody.
Larkin’s toughness, speed and change of direction jumped off the screen during his playing days at Wall High School in central New Jersey.
“When Casey was in high school (Wall, N.J), I thought man, ‘that’s a guy that we have to get, that’s the one,’” Woody said. “That’s the Man, was I right.”
Larkin has made an impact in Army’s secondary since his first career start against Boston College early in his sophomore season.
As Larkin prepares for his final Army-Navy game Saturday in Baltimore and finishing his senior season strong, he thinks about past Black Knights’ safeties that were mentors. They taught Larkin what right was. And, Larkin was a “sponge”, taking in the veteran players’ knowledge.
“Max (DiDomenico), Marquel (Broughton) and Q Hammonds, honorable guys, that liked to develop the younger class,” Larkin said. I credit them for really getting my understanding of the playbook. Just taking that seriously and working at it day by day and getting game experience my sophomore year, seeing how the speed of the game is at the college level adapting to that and leaning on those guys for tips.”
Larkin always seems around the football for Army. He has 10 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups and six interceptions in his career. Larkin is fearless, flying up from strong safety as a run stopper. He and fellow senior Collin Matteson, a first-year starter, have formed a dynamic safety duo this season. Both are management majors and are branching field artillery after their West Point graduation.
When asked what he has learned from Larkin on the field, Matteson said, “I don’t know where to start. I think the biggest thing is just when you are running to the ball just take your shot sometimes. You see Casey always flying up making plays in the backfield from his strong safety spot.”
Matteson added, “It’s super fun to play alongside him. He’s obviously a heck of a player. He’s made a lot of plays whether it be interceptions or TFLs (tackles for losses) just flying around. He’s obviously super fast and athletic so it makes my job easier knowing I’ve got him knowing I got him on the other side of the field.”
Larkin is a defensive coordinator’s dream. Woody’s hunches were spot on when watching Larkin become the player the coach thought he was.
Larkin’s value to the Black Knights’ defense shouldn’t be understated. When Larkin left Army’s last game with what coach Jeff Monken called “a double stinger”, UTSA scored two straight touchdowns to take the lead. Army would pull out a close road win and secure bowl eligibility.
“That guy (Larkin) will trigger and make plays not many safeties make,” Woody said. “He’s incredibly tough and fast. He’s done a great job of communicating our checks and defense in our secondary. I can’t say enough great things about Casey Larkin. I’m not sure where we would be without him.”
Back home in Central Jersey, Larkin grew up in an area filled with both Army and Navy fans. He watched college football’s most storied rivalry growing up. Now, Larkin will step on the field one last time against a service-academy rival with hopes of bringing the Commander in Chief’s trophy back to West Point.
“It’s an honor to play in one of these games,” Larkin said. “ It’s fun. In my opinion, it’s the best game in college football.”
