Two months after auditioning for NFL scouts, Greg Jones wants to be a college football player again.

It's an unusual story that is going to require beating long odds, but that is what Jones does best when given the opportunity.

The former Rutgers starting strong side linebacker -- who suffered what was called a career-ending neck injury last October -- said he has gained medical clearance to return to the field. He just needs a field to return to.

Nothing developed out of Rutgers Pro Day, so he is hoping the NCAA will grant him a rare sixth year of eligibility based on a multiple hardships waiver. It's the reason he didn't pursue an agent as a NFL hopeful, though he couldn't sit out Pro Day in case his college football career is over.

"It's always been something I was thinking about," Jones said of returning to college. "I never set myself on cutting out that chance. If you get an agent, you can't try and petition back for a year.

"I wanted to perform out there where if someone (in the NFL) would take me, I would go. If not, I would still have my option of trying to get my year back."

First things first.

Jones is searching for a program in any NCAA Division that is willing to offer a football scholarship to a graduate student and submit the waiver application on his behalf. Rutgers only fits half of the equation.

"There would be an option for me to come back as a walk-on," Jones said. "That isn't a problem, but the only thing is I'm not able to afford college right now by myself.

"I told them, 'If there was any other option like trying to get my year back with another school that would offer me a scholarship, then I would definitely take that opportunity.' It wouldn't be anything (against) Rutgers. It would be more beneficial for my family."

Jones started his remarkable four-school journey at East Stroudsburg, where he played one football season. He attended Middlesex County College in 2013 before transferring and playing one season at Monroe College.

When Rutgers finally offered Jones his dream of a walk-on roster spot close to home in 2015, he seized the opportunity. Within a calendar year that featured a coaching staff change, he worked his way from practice squad running back to starting linebacker and earned a scholarship.

In his fifth career start at the Big Ten level, Jones and teammate Trevor Morris hit helmet-to-helmet finishing a tackle against Ohio State, and Jones left the field on a stretcher with his neck in a brace. He was ruled out for the rest of his reshirt senior season, and Rutgers moved on through recruiting.

"They had no clue that I was trying to play football again," Jones said of not having a scholarship waiting for him. "They were moving onto their next season and had to fill up their roster and do whatever they had to do. I understood 100 percent that there were no more scholarships left."

I'm cleared to play ball again! pic.twitter.com/8l1zMgMgsR — Greg Jones (@6_gjones) May 9, 2017

Instead of taking his herniated disc as a career-ending sentence, Jones stayed on top of his medical check-ups. The doctor said the words he was waiting to hear shortly after Pro Day.

"He said that my (neck) discs are back to normal now and it shouldn't be anything that I will have a problem with," said Jones, who had 20 tackles and a sack in 2016. "He said, 'You're cleared to play football.'

"It wasn't a surprise to me. I never let it get to the point where I thought it was over. That's what had to be done for last year, but I never doubted getting another chance to play football."

Jones is set to graduate from Rutgers on Sunday with a degree in criminal justice. If there is any justice in the NCAA -- often there isn't -- Jones will get his opportunity from school No. 5.

"When I first went down and got told I wasn't able to play anymore, I was like, 'I love football. I'm going to figure out what I can do to be around the game,'" Jones said.

"I came across the policy of having two hardships in order to play. I knew for a fact that I wasn't giving it up. I went to our (Rutgers) compliance guy to see if he could help me. He gave me all the information. Hopefully somebody is able to use that information to get me a sixth year."

Jones' case hinges on two hardships: Not being able to afford college tuition as a walk-on out of Colonia High School and last year's injury. Rutgers has had four players -- Brian Duffy (2004), Edmond Laryea (2011), Mason Robinson (2012) and Sam Bergen (2015) -- granted sixth years.

"The thought of having another opportunity is a blessing," Jones said. "I feel that I do have a good chance of getting my year back. As far as coaches taking that risk, it's not in my hands. I give it to God and let Him handle it. A coach wouldn't regret it, I'll tell you that much."

And if his phone doesn't ring with offers? Jones hasn't gotten this far by thinking negatively.

"I would try every avenue," he said. "I just want to play ball again."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.