Michigan State University Athletics
Three Spartans Set To Play In Saturday's Gridiron Classic
1/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 27, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Three Michigan State seniors - offensive guard Paul Harker, defensive end Greg Taplin and offensive guard Joe Tate - have accepted invitations to play in The Villages Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Jan. 31 in The Villages, Fla. ESPN will televise the Gridiron Classic, with kickoff set for noon EST at The Villages Polo Stadium.
Harker, Tate and Taplin will represent the North, coached by Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez.
The 6-foot-3, 302-pound Harker was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing 23 games due to injuries from 1999-2002. In 2003, he led the Spartans in pancake blocks with 87 while grading out 90 percent or better in all but one game during the regular season. The Dayton, Ohio, native matched his career-high grade four times, scoring 96 percent each vs. Rutgers, Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State. He posted double-figure pancakes twice in 2003, recording 11 vs. Iowa and a career-best 14 vs. Illinois.
A three-year letterman, Harker made 30 career starts, including 17 straight at right guard.
 Greg Taplin, a second-team All-Big Ten selection, led the Spartans in tackles for losses (14 for 67 yards) and sacks (10 for 60).  | |
The 6-5, 259-pound Taplin earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media in 2003. He started 12 games at RUSH end, leading the Spartans in tackles for losses (14 for 67 yards) and sacks (10 for 60). The Hollywood, Fla., native ranked fifth in the Big Ten in sacks and eighth in tackles for losses. Taplin recorded eight tackles vs. Penn State in the regular-season finale, including four for losses (19 yards). He matched his career high with three sacks (18 yards) vs. Penn State. Taplin produced a career-best nine tackles vs. Ohio State, including a 2-yard sack. He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering five tackles vs. Indiana, including three sacks (15 yards). Taplin returned his first career interception 40 yards for a touchdown vs. Notre Dame. He posted six solo hits vs. Rutgers, with three behind the line of scrimmage (21 yards) including two sacks (18).
A four-year letterman, Taplin earned 29 career starts and recorded 132 tackles. His career totals include 18 tackles for losses (85 yards) and 13 sacks (77).
 Joe Tate, a second-team All-Big Ten pick, graded out 90 percent or better in all 12 regular-season games in 2003. | |
Tate, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, was a model of consistency in 2003, grading out 90 percent or better in all 12 regular-season games. The 6-5, 295-pound lineman from Southfield, Mich., ranked third on the team in pancake blocks with 37 and permitted only 1.5 sacks in over 450 passing plays. Tate played a near-perfect game vs. Indiana, scoring a career-best 99 percent including three pancakes. He graded 97 percent each vs. Minnesota and Michigan.
A four-year letterwinner, Tate made 29 career starts, including 23 straight at left guard.
