Senior punter Jake Hartbarger last played on Sept. 8 in Michigan State's loss to Arizona State. During his weekly press conference Tuesday, coach Mark Dantonio confirmed Hartbarger will not return to the field this season.
Hartbarger suffered a bone bruise in the fourth quarter against ASU after being run into during a punt. Hartbarger was expected to be out 6-8 weeks following the injury, but he and Dantonio both made the decision that he will not play in any more games this season.
"Jake is, in all general purposes, I believe done for the year," Dantonio said Tuesday. "To throw your right leg up in the air when it’s been broken is probably a little bit of an issue from a confidence standpoint."
Dantonio mentioned the team will try to redshirt Hartbarger for medical reasons, which would allow the senior to punt for the team next season.
"If we can go ahead (and put) a redshirt on him, a medical redshirt on him, for him to be able to punt next year and that’s the intent right now, unless something drastically changes, that’s the intent," Dantonio said.
MSU travels to No. 8 Penn State this weekend to battle for the Land Grant Trophy. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST.
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