Ex-Rutgers football player pleads guilty; 3 others get probation

A former Rutgers football player pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and could face jail time while three other players were given permission to enter a probationary program in connection with charges related to an alleged assault in April 2015.

In April Delon Stephenson, 23, pleaded guilty to a third-degree aggravated assault charge as a result of an altercation that took place on April 25, 2015 on Delafield Street, according to NJ Advance Media. The story states that under an apparent plea deal, Stephenson's charge was downgraded from second degree aggravated assault, which could have carried a prison term.

Three other former football players -- Nardir Barnwell, Razohnn Gross, and Daryl Stephenson - Delon's brother -- were charged with rioting and conspiracy to commit riot and have been granted permission to enter a Pre-Trial Intervention program, NJ Advance Media reported. As first offenders, if they complete the programs successfully, the charges could get dropped from their records. During PTI, they will be required to serve probation and will avoid jail time.

Authorities say a 19-year-old male student suffered a broken jaw during the unprovoked attack last April in which the defendants allegedly surrounded a group of at least four other individuals, including a Rutgers student, and assaulted them, police said.

The former players entered not guilty pleas and were arraigned in January in Middlesex County Superior Court.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.