Muhammad Wilkerson watched as more than 40 kids sprinted to midfield at Linden High School this morning, taking a knee to hear him speak at the free football camp that bears his name.

The Jets defensive end, who plans to be ready for the start of training camp despite a car accident late last month on the Garden State Parkway, said he was happy to pick up t-shirts and work with the kids, an idea that was started by Wilkerson's high school basketball coach at Linden, Phil Colicchio.

The Linden native was also happy that his life was regaining some normalcy after the horrifying moment where he flipped in his 2011 Dodge Charger. Though no one was seriously injured, Wilkerson walked away with stitches in his right forearm and a long scar down the left side of his neck.

Wilkerson struck the back of a 2011 Toyota Siena and was charged with reckless driving and failure to maintain a lane.

"With that situation, obviously I'm grateful that everyone is fine, nobody was hurt seriously," Wilkerson said. "It was a tragedy that it happened but I'm just happy everybody is okay and I'm blessed to be here.

"Things happen in life and I'm blessed to be here, blessed and happy that everyone else is safe and nobody was truly injured or hurt."

Wilkerson said he met with the team doctor and that he was given a clean bill of health, describing what happened as a few "minor bumps and bruises." He said the moment is still difficult to talk about at length.

Following a brief speech at the camp, Wilkerson judged a throwing contest for the younger campers before heading down near the blocking sleds to show some of the defensive linemen how to explode into the padding.

After arriving in New Jersey this morning from Baltimore, where he currently trains, he plans on making a quick turnaround and returning to the Maryland/D.C. area tonight.

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Jets first-round draft pick Quinton Coples is organizing a community event in his hometown of Kinston, N.C., to celebrate his selection into the NFL. In coordination with community leaders, Coples will hold a free barbecue for the town with music, food, basketball tournaments and activities for local children.