Darius Hamilton, Rutgers star, done for season, could redshirt

The worst-case scenario is now reality for Rutgers star Darius Hamilton, who will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.

Hamilton made his season debut last week but appeared to be favoring his right knee against Penn State and in the aftermath of the game.

The senior co-captain likely will redshirt and and return as a fifth-year player next season, a possibility he acknowledged earlier this week.

“Worst comes to worst, you redshirt and I’m here for another year with the guys that I came in with,” Hamilton said on Monday. “The only freshmen (in 2012) who played were me, Leonte (Carroo) and Kyle (Federico).

“Worst comes to worst, I’m here with the people I came in with and I get to enjoy football one last time for Rutgers.”

Hamilton was a 2014 All-Big Ten defensive tackle as he led the team with 11.5 tackles for loss, including six sacks.

The former five-star recruit said he is on track to graduate, which means he would be available elsewhere as an immediately eligible transfer, though his passion for Rutgers was never more obvious than when he willed himself into the lineup last week.

Rutgers faced Kansas on Saturday without its head coach and its biggest star on each of the ball.

Kyle Flood served game two of a three-game suspension for impermissible contact with a faculty member and wide receiver Leonte Carroo is indefinitely suspended after being arrested on charges of simple assault under domestic violence.

The Rutgers secondary also had to absorb another hit Saturday. Four defensive backs were among six players dismissed from the team this month after being arrested.

Starting strong safety Davon Jacobs was ruled out less than an hour before Saturday kickoff. He was not on the report issued Monday.

Kiy Hester started in his place.

Right guard Chris Muller and defensive end Djwany Mera, both starters, were probable on the pregame injury report.

Here it is, without Hamilton and Jacobs:

PROBABLE: P Tim Gleeson (lower body); RB Paul James (lower body); CB Ronnie James (lower body); DE Djwany Mera (lower body); OL Chris Muller (lower body); DE Kemoko Turay (upper body).

OUT: TE George Behr (lower body); WR Jawuan Harris (lower body); WR Dontae Owens (lower body); RB Desmon People (upper body); LB Nick Rafferty (upper body); DL Austin Rosa (lower body); RB Charles Snorweah (upper body); LB T.J. Taylor (lower body); OL Jacquis Webb (lower body).