D. J. Wonnum
American football player (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dennis O. "D. J." Wonnum Jr (born October 31, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
Wonnum with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Detroit Lions | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 31, 1997 Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Stephenson (Stone Mountain) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | South Carolina (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2020: 4th round, 117th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
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Early life
Wonnum grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and attended Stephenson 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 play college football at Iowa State before de-committing after a coaching change. He subsequently committed to attend Indiana before de-committing a second time and signing to play at South Carolina.[2]
College career
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-team All-Southeastern Conference.[8][9]
Professional career
| 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 ft 4+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 from NFL Combine[10][11] | ||||||||||||
Minnesota Vikings
Wonnum was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 117th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.[12]
In Week 4 against the Houston Texans, Wonnum recorded his first career sack on Deshaun Watson during the 31–23 win.[13] In Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers, Wonnum recorded a strip sack on Aaron Rodgers which was recovered by teammate Eric Wilson late in the fourth quarter to secure a 28–22 Vikings' win.[14] In Week 10 against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, Wonnum recorded a sack on Nick Foles during the 19–13 win.[15]
On December 27, 2023, Wonnum was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a season-ending torn quadriceps in a week 16 game against the Detroit Lions the previous Sunday.[16][17]
Carolina Panthers
On March 14, 2024, Wonnum signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.[18] He was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the season.[19] He was activated on November 9.[20]
In 2025, Wonnum played in 16 games with 15 starts, recording 42 tackles, three sacks, three passes defensed, and one interception.
Detroit Lions
On March 17, 2026, Wonnum signed a one-year contract worth up to $6 million with the Detroit Lions.[21]
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2020 | MIN | 14 | 2 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 3.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | MIN | 17 | 14 | 47 | 29 | 18 | 8.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | MIN | 16 | 1 | 38 | 27 | 11 | 4.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | MIN | 15 | 14 | 62 | 33 | 29 | 8.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51 | 1 |
| 2024 | CAR | 8 | 8 | 37 | 18 | 19 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | CAR | 16 | 15 | 42 | 19 | 23 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| Career | 86 | 54 | 250 | 142 | 108 | 30.0 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 1 | |
Postseason
Personal life
Wonnum's younger brother, Dylan, was a starting offensive lineman at South Carolina.[22]