NCAA officials granted a sixth season of eligibility to West Virginia defensive lineman Pat Liebig, Mountaineers Coach Bill Stewart announced this afternoon.

Liebig, who missed the past 18 months while returning home to Naples, Fla., to help his ailing father, was mostly a Mountaineers reserve in the 2003, 2005 and 2006 seasons while compiling 39 career tackles. This 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior last played in the 2007 Gator Bowl, but is expected to start at defensive end and likely see significant time at all three defensive-line spots.

"Pat went home for all the right reasons as he helped his sick father and the family business," Stewart said in a statement. "The 3.0-plus GPA finance major is truly a quality student-athlete who the state of West Virginia should be proud of."