Oklahoma center Ben Habern ends playing career

Oklahoma will have to replace center Ben Habern, who ended his playing career because of injuries. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The anchor of the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line, center Ben Habern, has decided to call it quits because of repeated injuries, head coach Bob Stoops said in a statement today.

Habern won't return to the team after he had offseason neck surgery that fused together two vertebrae. The senior started 30 games for the Sooners and had been named to the 2012 preseason All-Big 12 team.

"Our coaching staff knows this was a difficult decision for Ben," Stoops said in the statement. "Ben has been a consummate leader for our team, both on and off the field. We appreciate the toughness that Ben has displayed, and we wish him the very best as he completes his education at OU."

Habern has had multiple injuries in his career. He missed five games last season with a broken arm and the last two games of 2009 with a broken ankle.