DJ Wonnum

Linebacker, Detroit Lions · #98.

Player facts

Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Linebacker
Number: 98
Born: Oct 31, 1997 (age 28)
Birthplace: Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 262 lbs
College: South Carolina
Experience: 7 seasons
Status: Active

Stats

Among the NFL leaders, 2026 Regular Season:

4th in sacks 5

2026 Defense

	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	YDS	INT	PD	STF	STFYDS	KB
Regular Season	10	7	3	5	0	1	0	0	1	0.5	0	0
Last 5 Games	10	7	3	5	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0
Career	260	149	111	35	4	3	70	1	16	20	18	1

Recent games

			Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
Date	Opponent	Result	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	PD	KB
Sun, Oct 11	@ ARI	W 45-21	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Oct 4	@ CAR	L 32-26	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 27	vs NYJ	W 31-24	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Thu, Sep 17	@ BUF	L 41-31	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 13	vs NO	W 31-30 OT	3	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0

Last 5 games. Click a game for its box score.

About

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. Wonnum was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.

From Wikipedia’s article on D. J. Wonnum, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Wonnum grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and attended Stephenson High School. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.