Offensive guard Paul Harker has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, coach John L. Smith announced on Saturday.

Harker received his undergraduate degree in communication on May 2, and in the fall will return to MSU to pursue a second bachelor's degree.

Harker's career at MSU has been plagued with a batch of injuries. In 2001, he missed 10 games after suffering a neck injury in a game against Notre Dame, and was kept out of the 2000 season with a broken left foot.

He was granted a medical redshirt after missing the last seven games of the 1999 season with a concussion.

During his five-year career with the Spartans, the 6-foot-3, 299-pound Harker started in 17 games. In 2002, he started six of the team's 11 games and had a season-best eight knockdown blocks in a 21-17 loss to Notre Dame.