Spencer Larsen: Mormon Athlete
Spencer Larsen is a professional football fullback who is an unsigned free agent. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Larsen was born on March 4, 1984, in Mesa, Arizona. He and his wife, Ann, grew up in Gilbert, Arizona. During high school, he was recognized with SuperPrep All-Farwest honors, was named First-team All-State by The Arizona Republic, and was named the All-Region co-Defensive Most Valuable Player. At the University of Arizona, Larsen was named Third-team All-America and First-team All-Pacific-10 Conference as a freshman, Second-team academic All-Conference recognition as a sophomore, Second-team All-Pacific-10 Conference and First-team Academic All-Conference as a junior, and First-team All-Pacific-10 Conference as a senior. Larsen did not play during 2003-2004 while he served as a Missionary to Chile.
The Denver Broncos drafted Larsen in the sixth round of the 2008 National Football League draft where he stayed through the 2011 season. In November 2008, he became the fourth player in the NFL since 1990 to start on both defensive and offensive in the same game.
He signed with the New England Patriots in March 2012 but was placed on injured reserve in August then released in March 2013. In July he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. He was released on August 26 but re-signed on September 10, released on September 14, then re-signed on September 25. He spent one season with the Buccaneers.
Larsen is now a financial advisor.
The Larsens are the parents of five children.