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CHAMPAIGN – Martez Wilson went to the aid of a friend and suffered a serious stab wound. Almost eight months later, the Illinois linebacker would do the same thing again.

The Illinois junior linebacker talked about the incident publicly for the first time Sunday.

Early in the morning on Dec. 12, outside Champaign's FuBar, Wilson was about to get into a car when he saw former teammate D'Angelo McCray on the ground, being kicked and battered.

"It happened right in front of me," Wilson said.

Wilson got out of the car and started pulling people off of McCray.

"If it was anyone in that type of danger like he was, I would love to help," Wilson said. "If I was in that situation, if I was unconscious and I was being jumped, I would want someone to help me as well. He's a teammate. He's a brother.

"It was more instinct. I didn't want the situation to get much worse than what it was."

At first, Wilson didn't realize he had been stabbed.

"We were out tussling," Wilson said. "I fell and I thought I fell on the gravel and rocks. It was really the stabbing that made me fall. I didn't know it until I got out of the hospital."

The stab wounds required surgery and an extended stay in the hospital.

"Laying in the hospital bed, a lot of things changed for me mentally," Wilson said. "I could have easily been taken away, off the planet Earth. I tuned in real close to myself and said, 'I really have to focus. Take advantage of my scholarship and football. Take it real serious.' "

Wilson said the thoughts came to him as he woke up in the hospital.

"It just happened," Wilson said. "I was just shaking my head, catching myself crying a little bit, and saying, 'I know I can't let this take me down. I'm going to bounce back from this.' "

Wilson said he goes to church more now than he did before the stabbing.

"I go almost every Sunday," Wilson said. "I'm not going to say every Sunday, but I go when I can."

He is working more on his academics and less on his social life.

"I'm into the books more," Wilson said. "I try not to go out as much. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a college student, I still go out."

Wilson has stayed in contact with McCray, who is no longer on the Eastern Illinois roster. McCray was one of the first to call Wilson at the hospital after the incident. There were a string of visitors, including most of his teammates.

Initially, Wilson was told he wouldn't be able to resume football work for six months. But that prognosis changed after his six-week checkup.

"He told me I was healing faster than normal," Wilson said. "I knew it was a chance for me to play football in the spring."

Wilson kept one item from his hospital stay, a device used to measure his breathing ability. It sits on his dresser.

"I look at it every day and I thank God for giving me a second chance," Wilson said.