A three-time All-MIAA offensive lineman from 1958-60, Larkin was a dominant force on the Dales during their peak years in the MIAA. He was a two-time NAIA All-American and a sixth-round draft choice of the Denver Broncos in 1961. He was head football coach at Waterford Kettering High School for 11 years before returning to Hillsdale as offensive line coach. He later served as the head football coach at Saginaw Valley State University from 1980-1981.