From Greg Hansen’s Sunday notebook:

Former UA All-Pac-10 linebacker Spencer Larsen is making an impact in his first season with the Denver Broncos. To open last week’s victory over New Orleans, Larsen delivered an epic hit/tackle that was played, re-played and re-replayed on sports highlight shows all week. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen somebody get hit as hard as Spencer delivered on one of those backs on the kickoff return,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan told reporters. “That’s the hardest hit I’ve seen since I’ve been in the National Football League. It looked like he decapitated him.”

While I’ve been unable to find video of the hit vs. New Orleans, I have included video of another big Larsen hit vs. the Chiefs (above). Unfortunately, it should be mentioned that Spencer’s day didn’t end with as smashing results — as he “botched” the handling of a crucial on-side kick. Still, he’s certainly earning his keep and it would come as no surprise to us if his role only grew from this point forward.