Another ‘Husker starter down as Rose-Ivey says he’s done for year

And the hits just keep on coming for a Nebraska defense suddenly ravaged by injury and attrition.

While the school has yet to formally announce it, Michael Rose-Ivey took to social media very late last night to announce that he had suffered a very serious and likely season-ending knee injury. The linebacker stated he “tore my acl possibly mcl and cartilage,” but that “I’ll see more tomorrow” as he undergoes an MRI to reveal the true extent of the injury.

Based on his Instagram post, however, it doesn’t sound promising and is, to be honest, downright heartbreaking:

I’m hurting... I’m not gonna lie. I’m hurting bad. So much work out in this off season to get my weight down and body fat to prove to people I can be an every down linebacker. A lot of film study critiquing myself and trying to learn techniques from some of the best linebackers to ever play on any level. It’s hard right now for me. I can barely express how I feel right now cause I’m numb to it. It won’t hit me until I see my boys, my brothers, my teammates run out on that field aug 30th against FAU. It won’t hit me till I see my boy @ameerguapo and @afro_thunder80 put up touchdown after touchdown on defenses this year. It won’t hit me until my man @zaireanderson and @vrvj98 and randy lead the way to a top 10 defense. It’s gonna be a long process back but I got a lot of good people on my side. I’m coming back stronger than ever. Trust and believe that!! Send prayers up to the man above for me but don’t send me sympathy !! I will be back better than ever before !! #GBR #HUSKERNATION

Last season as a redshirt freshman, Rose-Ivey started seven of the 12 games in which he played. He set an NU freshman record with 66 tackles, which were tied for third on the team, while six of those tackles were for losses.

Exiting spring and entering summer camp, Rose-Ivey was expected to be the full-time starter at middle linebacker.

Friday it was reported that the Cornhuskers’ top nickel cornerback, Charles Jackson, would miss all of the upcoming season with a serious knee injury. Later on in the day, NU announced that another starting defensive back, LeRoy Alexander, had been suspended for the entire 2014 season.

(Tip O’ the Cap: Omaha World-Herald)