The key traits that might separate DJ Wonnum as an NFL draft prospect
South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp thinks his edge rusher, D.J. Wonnum, will be in the NFL for a while.
Yes, there’s the pass-rushing skill, the versatility of his game and the blend of speed and strength. But there’s something more elemental to what Wonnum can bring to whatever team drafts him in the latter half of the week.
Muschamp was speaking on 107.5 The Game as he pointed to the essential trait. ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss said Wonnum might be a Bill Belichick kind of player, especially in terms of joining special teams on the field block front.
“His football intelligence is off the charts,” Muschamp said. “D.J. is a guy, you can walk in the meeting room and say, ‘You’re a curl/flat defender. Match two to the flat.’ You can talk through that, and it’s done. And in the National Football League, because of the collective bargaining agreement a while back, they’re limited on the field with what they can do, so that limits you sometimes schematically.
“He’s a guy that can learn and play multiple spots, but he also gives you special teams value.”
Muschamp pointed out how in his time with the Miami Dolphins, the staff tracked percentage of snaps as a measure of value. With his ability to remain on the field in three- of four-down looks, plus multiple special teams units, Wonnum might be able to show well there in the NFL.
The Georgia product was a recruiting find in Muschamp’s first USC offseason, flipping from Indiana in a frantic shortened push to signing day. He was in the rotation as a backup Buck within a few games, the easy heir apparent to a starting role by season’s end.
Wonnum went on to be a two-time captain. He posted 137 tackles, 29 1/2 for loss (ninth in school history) and 14 sacks, six as a sophomore and 4 1/2 last season. He did that despite missing the majority of his junior season with a range of ailments.
There’s not much consistency in his draft projections, save for most putting him at some point on the early side Saturday.
He attended the NFL Combine and spoke to coaches and scouts there, something many of his teammates did not get the chance to do because of the coronavirus pandemic. Muschamp said those moments of interacting with coaches and meeting them were an asset in making his NFL case.
No matter where he’s picked, he’ll get his chance. And once he gets it, his former coach is confident his all-around skills will carry him a long way.
“D.J. Wonnum I think will play, barring injury, for a long, long time in the National Football League,” Muschamp said. “He brings so much value to your football team as far as a guy that’s probably a prototype 3-4 outside ‘backer that gives you edge rush pressure, but can also play on special teams.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
