Senior center Brain Ottney announced he will forgo his fifth and final year of eligibility because of chronic knee problems. Football head coach John L. Smith confirmed his decision on Friday.

"This is the toughest decision I've ever had to make," Ottney said in a statement. "I've had three knee surgeries and I've played with a great deal of pain. I set many goals as a player, including some beyond my college career, but that's impossible now."

Ottney said his knee injuries weren't allowing him to play to his full ability.

As a sophomore, the 6-foot-6, 302-pound native of Troy, Mich. received the Up Front Award as the team's most outstanding interior offensive lineman and repeated the honor his junior season. As a sophomore, he played a key role in enabling tailback T.J. Duckett to rush for 1,420 yards, the fifth-best single season total in Spartan history.

Coach Smith said he fully supported Ottney's decision.