PISCATAWAY -- He has given Rutgers the credibility that came with his arrival as a big-time recruit, the physical toll on his body after five grueling years, and maybe most of all, the leadership and character during the dark days that befell this program.

Darius Hamilton has given all that and then some during his career, but as he prepares to walk out onto the field at High Point Solutions Stadium for the final time on Saturday night, he has one final gift for the frustrated fan base he is leaving behind.

Hope.

"I'm laying the foundation for something that, someday, is going to be great," Hamilton said in a wide-ranging interview about his legacy this week. "I know that. I can see that with the talent we have on this team, I can see that in the coaching staff with how passionate they are and how they coach guys. I'm helping build something. And that's all I ever wanted to do.

"Obviously, at 2-8, people probably hear that and say, 'This kid doesn't know what he's talking about,'" he said "(But) I know for a fact I'm leaving this place in a good situation. I know this place is headed in the right direction. This season hasn't gone the way we want it to, but I know what kind of character is on this team."

That attitude is the essence of Hamilton, and it is just one reason why fans should give him a loud, throaty send off as the big defensive tackle walks onto the field with his mother, father and sister as part of the senior day ceremony on Saturday night.

Rutgers fans spend a lot of time asking the same question: What if the best New Jersey players stayed home? Well, here is one who did, it would be understandable if he looked at a rocky five years in Piscataway with something other than rose-colored glasses.

The coach who recruited him left for the NFL just days before signing day, but Hamilton stayed true to his commitment. The coach who replaced him was fired at the end of a what would have been Hamilton's senior season if not for an injury, and yet Hamilton returned for one more season.

"Ah, man, listen: I love this place to death," he said. "There was never a question in my mind of where I wanted to be when things got rough. Obviously, sometimes things don't work out the way you planned for them to work out but I'm part of the process."

Hamilton had to know that the first season under Chris Ash would be an uphill climb. He became a leader for Ash, embracing all the changes and setting an example for the younger players.

Yes, this season hasn't gone well. But can you imagine how things might have been had Ash, who immediately demanded more from the players in the training room and in their diets, met with resistance from the established players in the locker room? Hamilton and the other seniors made sure that didn't happen.

"Darius has been great," Ash said. "He doesn't say a whole lot but when he talks people listen to him. And the fact that Darius bought into what we're doing and what we're trying to build here meant a lot."

Hamilton called it a "long ride," and that ride hit its apex two seasons ago with a win over North Carolina in the Quick Lane Bowl. Not much has gone right for Hamilton, or this program, since.

The last time Rutgers faced Penn State, an injured Hamilton put himself at risk when he tried to play on one leg. He called that a poor choice last week, but there's little question it left an impression on the fan base. How can't you love a player who does that for your team?

"The relationships I've been able to form in the hardest times, whether it was when we were losing or I was hurt, that says a lot more to me than any good day," Hamilton said. "The good days were beautiful, but there's beauty in the struggle, and that's probably something that I've enjoyed the most."

The struggle is likely to continue against a far better Penn State team, but Hamilton hasn't given up on the season. He could have gone to Florida or Miami or just about anywhere five years ago out of Don Bosco, but he chose to stay home. Rutgers fans should remember him for that, and as he makes his exit, for this:

"I've had my fair share of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I wouldn't change any time I spent here for anything else in the world."

LISTEN: Episode 6 of NJ.com's Rutgers Football podcast

Rebuilding Rutgers: From The Ashes takes you inside the new football regime. This episode is a 10-year anniversary retrospect of Rutgers' greatest win.



Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook.