NFL

Serby’s Q&A with Muhammad Wilkerson

Jets breakout defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson tackled some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: Are you recognized now around town?

A: Some people may recognize me, some people don’t, and that’s that.

Q: Because you’re like a big deal now, you know that …

A: Nah, I’m not a big deal, I’m just a …

Q: Wait a minute — I’m hearing people calling you a star.

A: I’m just Muhammad Wilkerson, and that’s it … just Muhammad Wilkerson, that’s it. From Linden, New Jersey and … just a laidback, humble guy. Just love playing football and having fun, that’s it.

Q: Are there quarterbacks you haven’t sacked that you want to sack?

A: I want to sack every quarterback.

Q: No favorites?

A: No. I want to get all of ’em.

Q: Sacks or sex?

A: (Chuckle) I’m not answering that. … I don’t know, man. I gotta get back to you on that one.

Q: Did you ever watch the New York Sack Exchange?

A: Maybe highlights or something on TV if it was shown. I know those group of guys were great up front.

Q: How come you guys don’t have a nickname like that?

A: We can’t compare ourself to them. It’s a different era. Those guys, they put in a lot of hard work and dedication, and we’re just getting started. All of us are young up front, and we all hopefully plan on playing together here for a long time. At the end of the day, we gotta start our resume, we’re just building it, we’re just getting started. We didn’t even peak yet, so we gotta keep going, and maybe one day eventually in the future we’ll have a nickname.

Q: Since Damon “Snacks” Harrison is one of your guys, and you guys are all hungry, so how would you feel if I nicknamed you the New York Snack Exchange?

A: Nah nah, we don’t need no nickname right now. Like I said, we still gotta show why should deserve a nickname.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: I like to get after it. I love playing in the trenches. It’s tough and physical, I love doing the dirty work for those guys behind me, free up David [Harris] and the linebackers to run around and make plays.

Q: Are you driven to be great?

A: I’m driven to be great, definitely. Like I said, I love this game, I didn’t play this game just for the money. I want all accolades, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, eventually I want to hope to be in the Hall of Fame. It’s not just about fame or anything like that.

Q: Talk about, “Play like a Jet.”

A: Like [Coach Rex Ryan] said last week, not playing reckless, but playing fearless.

Q: Can you sense how much Rex wants this?

A: Yeah, I think so. I guess you say it’s our time, man, it should be at least, everybody should have that thought. Before I got here, they made it to two AFC Championships, and then we go two years and don’t make it to the postseason. I think it’s about time that we got back to playing ball the way the Jets know how to play football, and I think it’s coming along, I think we’re getting there.

Q: What’s that feeling like when you’re in the kind of zone you were in Monday night in Atlanta?

A: Sometimes it’s mental with me and I’m picturing stuff making it happen. On that one play I got the strip-sack, it’s about some stuff we talk about in the film room. I kinda pictured it before it happened, and it happened. I told myself, “I think this is gonna happen while I’m rushing, and if he does this, I’m gonna counter and do that,” and he did what I thought he was gonna do.

Q: How did that begin?

A: Just by watching film with [defensive line] Coach [Karl] Dunbar.

Q: Do you see yourself as an intimidator?

A: I see myself as Muhammad Wilkerson.

Q: Do you like to intimidate?

A: I can’t answer that. I don’t know. Some people may feel they’re intimidated by me, but end of the day, I just go about my business, do what I gotta do on the field.

Q: Describe Sheldon Richardson.

A: A guy with a great motor. Always showing up. We watch film, after the play, the ball is down, the tackle’s getting down and you see 91 in the picture. He’s a rookie but he’s getting after guys. I’m glad he’s part of this organization.

Q: Kenrick Ellis.

A: Kenrick is a big, strong guy. He’s still working to get back healthy and be 100 percent, but when he’s out there he’s definitely giving his all. At the end of the day, he’s a big man to stop. He can’t be blocked one-on-one.

Q: Snacks.

A: Snacks is showing everybody that you don’t have to be picked at all. It doesn’t matter you’re first round, second round, you just gotta put in the hard work and dedication, and everything will take care of itself, and it’s showing.

Q: Quinton Coples.

A: He’s an athlete. He could put his hand down in the dirt, standing up, dropping back in coverage, he’s got him rushing. … It’s good to have a player like that because with this system.

Q: Best trash talker?

A: Calvin Pace.

Q: Is he non-stop?

A: Yeah, he’s non-stop. We go out there, he tells us, “Bring that noise.”

Q: Meaning?

A: Bring the hits! That’s a little slang (smile). Once I hear him talking, it kinda gets me going, so I gotta get going.

Q: Geno Smith.

A: Definitely happy the way he played the other night, especially coming off a game like Tennessee, and then he turned on a big stage like that, “Monday Night Football.” … He’s a tremendous athlete, and he’s only gonna get better. He’s very mature at this stage being a rookie. The sky’s the limit with his talent. He’s gonna predict how good he can be in this league.

Q: Describe Jets fans.

A: Always showing us support, and hopefully Sunday they’re loud in MetLife Stadium. It was rocking when we played Buffalo and Tampa Bay in the opener, so we need all that noise and that motivation and all those guys cheering us on every Sunday.

Q: Is this team better than people from the outside think it is?

A: At the end of the day, people have their opinion, everybody’s entitled to their opinion. Everybody in this locker room believes in each other and has each’s other’s back.

Q: How old is your daughter?

A: One-and-a-half.

Q: What’s her name?

A: Heaven. I love being a dad and watching her grow.

Q: Describe her personality.

A: (Smile) For about to be 2-year-old, she got her own little attitude … but she’s cool. She likes to have fun. Got a great smile.

Q: How much easier is the game for you now than it was when you were a rookie?

A: It slowed down for me. I feel like I got a good IQ of football obviously. I’m aware of formations and stuff.

Q: What does Breast Cancer Awareness Month mean to you?

A: My mom [Janice] is a breast cancer [survivor] for about like 14 years. My grandmother is a survivor for like 20-plus years. So this month means a lot to me. I wear the pink out there this month faithfully … for not just my family … many people have loved ones they may have lost or have family members who are also survivors, so I’m not just playing for my family.

Q: You were 10 or 11 when you got the news about your mother. What do you remember when you found out?

A: Being that I was that age, I heard “cancer,” I just thought the worst something, like my mom’s not gonna make it. But God had a different plan for her. She got back healthy, and she’s here with us still to this day.

Q: Describe her.

A: She’s in like the social work field, so she works at like a homeless shelter. She’s a kind-hearted person at the end of the day, a giving person, and strong and very determined, and independent.

Q: Are you a good bowler?

A: Decent.

Q: What do you average?

A: On a good day like … 120, 130.

Q: What’s so great about being a New York Jet?

A: I’m here at home, playing in New Jersey. … The vibe you get coming from the building, it’s just like open arms … love … it’s a family here. Basically, I’m waking up at home with one family, and I’m coming to another family.

Q: Anything else I need to know about you?

A: I think that’s about it, man (smile). I’m a simple guy, man. … I don’t know what else you’re gonna get out of me. I don’t do much, man, I don’t say much.

Q: You don’t?

A: No. I don’t know why y’all think I do, man. I’m nobody, man. I ain’t nobody.

Q: Everybody’s somebody.

A: I’m just Muhammad Wilkerson, that’s it. Good old Muhammad Wilkerson, that’s it, man.

Q: You want to sneak up on people still, it sounds like.

A: I’m just Muhammad Wilkerson, that’s it, man.