(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Sitting in Rutgers' locker room with a one-half suspension following an ejection for targeting a week earlier, safety Johnathan Aiken was writing down notes before entering during the second half Saturday against Michigan.

That's when he actually remained under control.

"I was screaming at the television, ready to jump out," Aiken said afterward. "I just knew in the back of my head I was going to be in there in the second half. I just stayed patient and waited."

Now Rutgers' secondary might have bigger issues.

Backup Andre Hunt suffered an undisclosed injury against Michigan. Normal starter Delon Stephenson (lower body) played sparingly after sitting out the previous week.

It prompted head coach Kyle Flood on Tuesday to move promising freshman running back Josh Hicks to free safety, where he will compensate for thinning depth.

Listed at 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, Hicks should have no problem with the physical adjustment. Flood said the move might not be permanent. He will make an evaluation during Rutgers' bye week.

"It was a topic that actually came up during the recruiting process with his high school coach," Flood said Tuesday. "Dave Marino felt like Josh was an extremely talented running back but also thought he'd be a talented defensive back, too. ... Right now we just have more of a need over there."