Veteran offensive lineman returning to Gamecocks for one more year
South Carolina has added another piece to its 2022 equation.
Starting tackle Dylan Wonnum announced on Friday via Twitter that he’ll return for another season with the Gamecocks.
“Gamecock nation ... I’m back!!!” Wonnum said in a social media graphic.
The brother of former South Carolina standout and current Minnesota Viking D.J. Wonnum, Dylan was a three-year starter at right tackle entering the 2021 campaign. Wonnum appeared six games this fall before going down with a season-ending injury.
The Gamecocks are expected to bring back the bulk, if not all of its offensive line from the 2021 season. Senior Eric Douglas already announced his return in December. South Carolina will also bring back underclassmen Jaylen Nichols, Vershon Lee, and Tyshawn Wannamaker. Hank Manos and Jakai Moore should be back in the fold as well.
Then USC offensive line had its struggles in a season in which the Gamecocks ranked toward the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in most offensive categories.
South Carolina finished the season 13th in the SEC in pass blocking and 10th in the league in pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.
PFF grades teams on a 100-point scale (100 being the best possible grade). USC recorded a pass blocking grade below 63 in 11 of its 13 games this season. It also failed to notch a run blocking grade better than 70 against FBS competition in 2021.
Wonnum is the latest in a string of South Carolina players to announce their returns to Columbia for one more season under head coach Shane Beamer. Douglas, receiver Josh Vann, defensive linemen Jordan Strachan and Zacch Pickens and linebackers Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson all said that they will come back to South Carolina next fall.
South Carolina finished its first season under Beamer with a 38-21 win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last week. Beamer became just the second coach in school history to win a bowl game in his first season at the helm.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 5:47 PM.
