 Wonnum with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 98 –Carolina Panthers | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1997-10-31)October 31, 1997 (age 27) Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Georgia) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | South Carolina (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2020: 4th round, 117th pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
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Dennis O. "D. J." Wonnum Jr (born October 31, 1997) is an American professionalfootballlinebacker for theCarolina Panthers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theSouth Carolina Gamecocks.
Wonnum grew up inStone Mountain, Georgia, and attendedStephenson High School.[1] As a senior, he was named All-Region after recording 38 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Wonnum initially committed to playcollege football atIowa State before de-committing after a coaching change. He subsequently committed to attendIndiana before de-committing a second time and signing to play at South Carolina.[2]
Wonnum played in all of South Carolina's games as a true freshman, recording 32 tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.[3] Wonnum was named a permanent team captain going into his sophomore year and finished the season with 57 tackles and led the team with 13.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.[4][5] He injured his ankle during the Gamecocks' season opener as a junior, and only played in five games. He compiled 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks during the injury-shortened season.[6][7] As a senior, Wonnum recorded 37 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks with three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, one blocked kick, and an interception and was named second-teamAll-Southeastern Conference.[8][9]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+5⁄8 in (1.95 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | 34+1⁄8 in (0.87 m) | 10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m) | 4.73 s | 1.70 s | 2.77 s | 4.44 s | 7.25 s | 34.5 in (0.88 m) | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | 20 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[10][11] | ||||||||||||
Wonnum was selected by theMinnesota Vikings with the 117th overall pick in the fourth round of the2020 NFL draft.[12]
In Week 4 against theHouston Texans, Wonnum recorded his first career sack onDeshaun Watson during the 31–23 win.[13]In Week 8 against theGreen Bay Packers, Wonnum recorded a strip sack onAaron Rodgers which was recovered by teammateEric Wilson late in the fourth quarter to secure a 28–22 Vikings' win.[14]In Week 10 against theChicago Bears onMonday Night Football, Wonnum recorded a sack onNick Foles during the 19–13 win.[15]
On December 27, 2023, Wonnum was placed on theinjured reserve list after suffering a season-ending torn quadriceps in a week 16 game against theDetroit Lions the previous Sunday.[16][17]
On March 14, 2024, Wonnum signed a two-year deal with theCarolina Panthers.[18] He was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the season.[19] He was activated on November 9.
Wonnum's younger brother, Dylan, is a starting offensive lineman at South Carolina.[20]