2008: Joined the Vandals in January 2008 ... earned starting role and led team in tackles last season ... had 82 total tackles (70 solo and 12 assists) ... accounted for two tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed ... best outing was 14 total tackles (13 solo and one assist) vs. Nevada on Oct. 4, 2008.
Junior college: Played at Laney Junior College in 2006 and 2007 after initially signing with Cal ... first-team all-conference as a freshman ... injured as a sophomore but still played in every game during Laney’s 10-1 Mid-Empire Conference championship season.
High school: At Oakland Tech, three-time Oakland Athletic League selection ... PrepStar.com all-American and PrepStar.com Top 10 Dream Team ... was ranked 11th in the Rivals.com Top 20 and 16th in the SuperPrep.comTop 20 ... Rivals.com rated him as the 23rd best player at any position in California ... was ranked 31st in the Super West 60 by Rivals.com ... NorCal Prep ranked him eighth among all players in Northern California ... all-Far West selection by SuperPrep, which listed him 36th in California ... during high school career, had 17 interceptions and 29 sacks ... also played on offense and had 1,200 yards in receptions ... was chosen to play in the CaliFlorida Bowl, which matches the best high school players from California and Florida.
Personal: Son of Denise Bennett and Virdell Larkins ... cousin of Buffalo Bills’ running back Marshawn Lynch ... born Nov. 7, 1986 at Oakland, Calif.
Single-game bests
Tackles ? 14 (vs. Nevada, Oct. 4, 2008); Unassisted tackles ? 13 (vs. Nevada, Oct. 4, 2008); Assists ? 2, three times (at Hawai`i, Nov. 22, 008; vs. Boise State, Nov. 15, 2008, and vs. San Jose State, Nov. 1, 2008); Tackles-for-loss ? 1, twice (at Fresno State, Oct. 11, 2008, and vs. Nevada, Oct. 4, 2008); Forced fumbles ? 1 (at Fresno State, Oct. 11, 2008); Fumble recoveries ? 1 (at Hawai`i, Nov. 22, 2008); Interceptions ? 1, twice (vs. San Jose State, Nov. 1, 2008, and vs. Idaho State, Sept. 6, 2008); Passes defensed ? 1 (vs. Idaho State, Sept. 6, 2008).
