Michael Larkin's primary job is wide receiver, but he gets his kicks playing on the Miami RedHawks' punt team.

        Larkin is a “gunner,” one of two players who line up wide on the line of scrimmage and try to head downfield at full speed when the ball is snapped.

        Opposing teams usually try to slow down gunners with double-team “chucks” near the line of scrimmage, which would make the job a chore for some players — especially if, like Larkin, they're only 5 feet 8 and weigh 163 pounds. But Larkin lives for the moment.

IF YOU GO

Miami vs. Iowa     When: 12:10 p.m., Saturday     Where: Yager Stadium, Oxford     Radio: WMOH-AM (1450)     Records: MU 1-0, Iowa 1-0

        “I like it for the simple fact that I haven't played defense since (youth) football,” the sophomore said. “It's my only chance to go down and deliver a blow.”

        MU coaches named Larkin special teams player of the week after Saturday's 27-21, season-opening win at North Carolina. Besides racking up three solo tackles and an assist, he pinned the Tar Heels deep in their territory by tipping back into play a punt that was headed for the end zone.

        “He was outstanding on special teams — and not just on tackles,” RedHawks coach Terry Hoeppner said. “He was a big playmaker on special teams.”

        Larkin also hooked up with sophomore quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on a 3-yard touchdown pass that gave MU the lead for good in the second quarter.

        Iowa, which visits the RedHawks at 12:10 p.m.Saturday, is well aware of Larkin's capabilities. As a freshman walk-on last season, Larkin made the squads for Miami's first two trips to Michigan and Iowa. He finally got meaningful playing time in the second half against the Hawkeyes after another receiver messed up an assignment.

        “Coach was turning around, looking for somebody to come into the game, and I happened to be the first guy he saw,” Larkin recalled. “Once I got into the game, the coaches called a play for me to run. It was a bomb.”

        Larkin's first catch was a 56-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger, and he ended up with three receptions for a personal career-high 121 yards. Larkin finished the season with 37 catches for a team-high 627 yards — the fifth-highest single-season total in MU history.

        One reason Larkin, a St. Xavier graduate, was able to make such an immediate impact was his friendship with Roethlisberger. The two are roommates at Miami, and each won team Most Valuable Player awards (Larkin for the South, Roethlisberger, out of Findlay, for the North) in Ohio's 2000 North-South All-Star Game.

        “That's actually when we first met,” Larkin said. “That's where we became friends.”

        They also were Ohio teammates in the Big 33 All-Star Game against Pennsylvania.

        Larkin, whose 4.3-second 40-yard dash time makes him the fastest RedHawk, certainly won't catch Iowa napping.

        “They'll either concentrate on me and free up my teammates, or concentrate on my teammates and free me up,” he said. “If they're waiting on me, so be it. I have confidence in my teammates to do what needs to be done.”

Sports Stories

Golf veterans debate Augusta membership Weather, course may mean low numbers at Kroger Defending Kroger champ misses Grizzly Waite leads Canadian A match for the ages: Agassi vs. Hewitt Davenport, Mauresmo stand in way of all-Williams final Sampras has the look of a champ again U.S. Open notebook Beavers thump Owls Buckeye AD says he's happy Dismissed from Kentucky, Parker goes to South Carolina Golden Flashes relish shot at Ohio State Kentucky's world champions greet the president Louisville guard undergoes surgery for injury Miami bubbly over first Big Ten visit Miami WR Larkin quick to impress friends, foes alike No. 23 Irish wary of letdown UK's Robertson plans to dominate opponents Wildcats will not be overconfident against UTEP Earnhardt Jr. wins pole for Busch race Stewart wins truck race at Richmond Too bad nobody thought of it sooner U.S. loses second straight NHL MVP Theodore signs three-year contract with Canadiens Woodward Stakes top attraction as Belmont opens fall season Coming up this week

Frerotte-Westbrook connection
WR corps boasts 6-cylinder power
No TV for Bengals-Chargers
Chargers' Jammer ready to sit out season
Injuries piling up for Browns
NFL opens season with NYC concert
49ers 16, Giants 13
Rotation forecast cloudy as last year
Reds-Brewers series preview
Astros 5, Padres 0, 11 innings
A-Rod hits two homers to reach 50
A's need to keep winning
Every club not named 'Yankees' votes for labor deal
Expos ponder fate
Bibb helps turn around Norwood
Experience paying off for unbeaten Cougars
Lakota East enjoying early success
No. 4 Wyoming cruises
Rare match tonight between Badin and Lebanon
Roger Bacon 41, Holy Cross 0
CCD's two-back attack pops North College Hill
Football polls
Ohio prep football preview
Kentucky prep football preview
Lakota West subdues rival East
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Field hockey results
Girls golf results
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
Player of the Year watch list