Muhammad Wilkerson
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Wilkerson is an American football
defensive end
for the New York Jets
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Temple
.
in his hometown of Linden, New Jersey
. He helped lead Linden to state titles during his junior and senior years in basketball.
and subsequently enrolled at Temple University
. As a freshman at Temple in 2008, Wilkerson played in 11 games and recorded 13 tackles
and a sack
. As a sophomore in 2009 he started all 13 games and recorded 58 tackles and six sacks.
As a junior in 2010 Wilkerson recorded 68 tackles and 10 sacks. Following his junior season, he was named to the first-team All-MAC
selection and the team defensive MVP.
and at Temple's Pro Day session, Wilkerson's draft stock rose significantly. He became regarded as a versatile prospect whom NFL Network Anaylst Mike Mayock
compared to Trevor Pryce
, concluding that Wilkerson was a first round prospect.
and Dave Yovanovits
. He also became the Owls' highest draft pick since Paul Palmer
, who was selected nineteenth overall in the 1987 NFL Draft
. Head coach Rex Ryan
reiterated Wilkerson possesses similar attributes to Trevor Pryce
. Wilkerson signed a four-year, $7.4 million contract on July 31, 2011.
Wilkerson recorded his first career sack
on September 18, 2011, sacking Jacksonville Jaguars
quarterback Luke McCown
in the end zone
for a safety.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Temple
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
.
Early years
Wilkerson attended Linden High SchoolLinden High School (New Jersey)
Linden High School is a comprehensive community public high school located in Linden in Union County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Linden Public Schools...
in his hometown of Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
. He helped lead Linden to state titles during his junior and senior years in basketball.
College career
After high school, Wilkerson spent a year at Hargrave Military AcademyHargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
and subsequently enrolled at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. As a freshman at Temple in 2008, Wilkerson played in 11 games and recorded 13 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and a sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. As a sophomore in 2009 he started all 13 games and recorded 58 tackles and six sacks.
As a junior in 2010 Wilkerson recorded 68 tackles and 10 sacks. Following his junior season, he was named to the first-team All-MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
selection and the team defensive MVP.
Pre-draft
Wilkerson was initially what analysts termed "a sleeper selection"; however, following positive results at the NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
and at Temple's Pro Day session, Wilkerson's draft stock rose significantly. He became regarded as a versatile prospect whom NFL Network Anaylst Mike Mayock
Mike Mayock
Michael Francis Mayock is a former professional football player, a safety with the New York Giants of the National Football League...
compared to Trevor Pryce
Trevor Pryce
Trevor W. Pryce is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. Pryce played college football at the University of Michigan before transferring to Clemson University...
, concluding that Wilkerson was a first round prospect.
New York Jets
Wilkerson was drafted by the New York Jets with the thirtieth overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was the fourth Temple player to be drafted by the Jets, proceeding Mike Stromberg, Joe KleckoJoe Klecko
Joseph Edward Klecko is a former American football player as a defensive lineman best remembered for his days as a member of the New York Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange."-Temple University Owls:...
and Dave Yovanovits
Dave Yovanovits
Dave Yovanovits is a former American football offensive lineman in the NFL most recently of the New Orleans Saints. He played in every snap of 40 of 45 games for Temple University. He was drafted in the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, whom he played for in 2003 and 2004...
. He also became the Owls' highest draft pick since Paul Palmer
Paul Palmer (American football)
Paul Woodrow Palmer is a former professional American football running back. He played in the National Football League for three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys. He was the runner-up to Vinny Testaverde for the 1986 Heisman Trophy and holds rushing...
, who was selected nineteenth overall in the 1987 NFL Draft
1987 NFL Draft
The 1987 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987...
. Head coach Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan is an American football head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League . After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009...
reiterated Wilkerson possesses similar attributes to Trevor Pryce
Trevor Pryce
Trevor W. Pryce is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. Pryce played college football at the University of Michigan before transferring to Clemson University...
. Wilkerson signed a four-year, $7.4 million contract on July 31, 2011.
Wilkerson recorded his first career sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
on September 18, 2011, sacking Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback Luke McCown
Luke McCown
Lucas Patrick McCown is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League...
in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
for a safety.