D.J. Wonnum is Motivated to Keep Getting Better

Having been born on Halloween, it’s not a surprise that senior D.J. Wonnum has developed into a fearsome force on South Carolina’s defense, and his production on the defensive line has been a treat for head coach Will Muschamp.

“Growing up, I was kind of a late bloomer,” Wonnum said. “I was kind of smaller than everybody. Coach Muschamp saw a lot of things in me that not a lot of others did. I appreciate him for that. Having that confidence in me makes me want to go even harder for him. It’s motivation for me to keep going. That and my family.

“My pops has always had a big impact on me. He’s always been in my ear and telling me things that I can do better. Having him always doing that has been a big deal. He and my mom.”

The Stone Mountain, Ga., native made a big impact as a freshman in 2016, playing in every game for the Gamecocks while leading all freshmen on the team with 32 tackles. Wonnum broke out as a sophomore, starting every game, while leading South Carolina with 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. He was twice named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. That year he became one of three sophomores in program history to be named a permanent team captain.

Poised for an all-conference season in 2018, Wonnum suffered a series of injuries which caused him to play in only five games. After playing well in the opener against Coastal Carolina, he suffered an ankle injury and missed the next five games. He came back in a big way against Tennessee, notching three tackles and a pair of sacks, including one on the Vols’ final offensive play to secure South Carolina’s 27-24 victory. He earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors, while his brother, Dylan, earned SEC Freshman of the Week at the same time for his work on the offensive line, marking the first time a set of brothers earned league honors in the same week. The two were competitive growing up, and that hasn’t changed when they square off in practice.

“When he first got here, it was a pretty big deal with both of us being here,” Wonnum said. “We go against each other a couple of times. He’s a pretty good offensive lineman, so it’s fun. He gives me some different looks that can help me in a game.

“We talk trash, just a little bit. Growing up, him pushing me and me pushing him really helped. I love having him as a brother. By him pushing me, I’m getting better and better, and he’s getting better, too.”

“Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do.”
– D.J. Wonnum

Wonnum would miss the last three games last year with another ankle injury. Heading into his final season with the Gamecocks, Wonnum was determined to make it count.

“It was frustrating, especially when you know you’ve put the work in,” Wonnum said of the injuries. “It was not a good feeling. Things like that happen in this game, and you just have to work hard to come back from it. I feel like it set me up to have a great year this year. I’m definitely more motivated.

“I just have to get back to making plays for my team. As a defense, we just have to play fast. We have to get off the line, get after them, and play fast. After my first couple of years, I worked a lot on getting stronger, getting faster, and getting more physical.”

Wonnum enjoyed another first earlier this year while making a big play when he notched his first career interception at Missouri, racing 21 yards before being knocked out of bounds a yard shy of the endzone.

“It was crazy. I was reading the receiver coming through, and when I first caught it, I had a little ‘wow’ moment,” Wonnum said. “I took off running, not thinking that I could have cut it back and scored. I was thinking, ‘just run. Just go!’ It was a good feeling. I wish I could have scored the touchdown, but at the end of the day, it was a big play for my team.”

While his current position has him chasing down quarterbacks, Wonnum was an outstanding pass catcher in high school. He earned all-state honors as a tight end during his junior year at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., and he’d be more than happy to contribute on the other side of the field.

“Hey, if they call my number, I’ll be ready!” Wonnum said. “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do.”

Wonnum has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll each year on campus, and the sport and entertainment management major with a minor in business looks forward to working in sports when his playing days come to an end.

“After football, I might like to run my own sports league or team,” Wonnum said. “I interned with the Columbia Fireflies (baseball team). That was a great experience. Maybe one day I can be a president of a team or sports venue or something like that.”

On game days, Wonnum is excited to play, but his pregame ritual is relatively calm, as are his feelings about having a birthday on Halloween.

“I try not to get too antsy on game day,” Wonnum said. “I just listen to my music and relax.

“Growing up, I didn’t really dress up too much at Halloween. It was crazy with everyone dressing up and going outside and celebrating, but I didn’t do too much of that.”