One of the deepest position groups on the Rutgers football team just took a hit.

Tyreek Maddox-Williams, one of three returning starters in an experienced linebacker corps, suffered a torn ACL in a non-contact situation Tuesday and will miss the 2017 season, according to Scarlet Knights coach Chris Ash.

The injury is a significant blow to a Rutgers defense that is expected to depend on a vastly improved group of linebackers. As a true freshman last fall, the 6-foot, 232-pound Maddox-Williams made 47 tackles while starting six of the 11 games he played in at strongside linebacker. He earned a spot on the ESPN.com Big Ten All-Freshman team.

A former Buffalo commit who starred at Timber Creek High School, Maddox-Williams missed all of spring camp after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.

It's not immediately known who will fill Maddox-Williams' job at strongside spot, but fifth-year senior Ross Douglas -- who transitioned last spring from defensive back to a hybrid safety-linebacker position -- could draw consideration alongside middle linebacker Deonte Roberts and weakside linebacker Trevor Morris.

Rutgers has depth at the position, with redshirt senior T.J. Taylor, redshirt juniors Eric Margolis and Brandon Russell, redshirt sophomore Austin Rosa, redshirt freshman Rashawn Battle and four true freshmen -- Olakunle Fatukasi, Tyshon Fogg, Syhiem Simmons and C.J. Onyechi -- among the linebackers on the roster.

"We are bigger today at linebacker than we were at any point last season,'' Ash said following his team's first training-camp practice on Monday. "I think we've got more depth. And, throwing in some of the freshmen, we have more competition for at least two-deep spots.''

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.