Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers defensive lineman paralyzed on a kickoff return last season, was a special guest at Jets practice Thursday afternoon thanks to an invitation from fellow Scarlet Knight Jamaal Westerman.

"More than a good player, he was just a good guy," Westerman said. "His mom's nice, everybody's nice, we're a family out at Rutgers. So it was hurtful what happened to him, but just to see his recovery and how he's taken it, and how he's taken it with a smile."

LeGrand has a few other connections to the Jets, including Bart Scott. The linebacker has made proceeds of his "Can't Wait" T Shirts available to the Eric LeGrand Patriot Saint Foundation.

Santonio Holmes said LeGrand's story is inspirational. The 20-year-old LeGrand was told after being injured on a kickoff return that he probably would never walk again or come off a ventilator.

After five weeks he was able to breathe on his own, and recently LeGrand said via his Twitter account that he stood for 40 minutes.

"It was an amazing story, not wanting ever to give up," Holmes said. "It's going to be an honor for him to come out and be a part of this team and feel loved, and the game that I know he loved to play and not take anything for granted."

Westerman, who played with LeGrand and has seen him since at Rutgers or at school functions, said it's hard for him to see LeGrand as just a symbol of something. To him, LeGrand is a friend who loves football and wants to come to a practice. At the same time, he sees why LeGrand is special.

"We all believe he's going to walk some day," Westerman said. "Life comes with adversity, ups and downs, but it's how you handle it."