South Carolina Football – Impact Juniors
By Jacob Elsey
OFF: Ortre Smith, Dylan Wonnum
Wonnum enters his third season with the Gamecocks and looks to be in line for a starting job at offensive tackle. He’s played in 16 games over his first two years, making 14 starts. Last year, he was slowed by an ankle injury which forced him to miss a chunk of the regular season.
Dylan, the younger brother of Gamecock defensive lineman DJ Wonnum, earned All-Conference accolades as a freshman. That year, he played in nine games, starting at right tackle in his last seven appearances. He built upon that in 2019, earning the opening day start against North Carolina. Unfortunately, he was hurt while playing against Missouri, and ended up missing the next five games before returning when the Gamecocks took on Appalachian State. He started in all seven games in which he appeared.
With a solid junior season, Wonnum could hear his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft. Offensive tackles are in high demand, and he’s shown to be one of the SEC’s best when healthy. He projects to bookend the right side of the line when the 2020 season begins.
Smith burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2017, making 10 starts at receiver and hauling in 30 catches for 326 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, his sophomore season was derailed by a lingering knee injury, causing him to redshirt after playing in just two games. He returned to the field last season, but wasn’t quite up to speed, and spent most of the year behind Bryan Edwards and Shi Smith on the depth chart.
For his career, Smith has 42 receptions, 420 yards, and four touchdowns. The Mt. Pleasant native appeared in nine games in 2019, making his only start in the finale against Clemson. He’ll be expected to take on a much larger role next year as the Gamecocks are in search of playmakers on the outside.
South Carolina loses top target Bryan Edwards in 2020, leaving behind, for the most part, a very inexperienced group of wide receivers. Senior Shi Smith looks to have locked down one of the starting receiver spots, but things get a little dicey after that.
The Gamecocks’ receiver group returns a total of 46 starts, with 26 belonging to Shi Smith, and another 11 belonging to OrTre Smith. Of the five upperclassmen, three have dealt with significant injuries. Those three, Randrecous Davis, Chad Terrell, and O. Smith, have missed a total of 32 games over the last two years, which has hampered their progression and ability to move up the depth chart.
Behind the upperclassmen are Dakereon Joyner, who is transitioning from quarterback, Xavier Leggette, who played in 11 games as a freshman, Ty Johnson, who has yet to see the field, and the newcomers, Mike Wyman, Ger-Cari Caldwell, and Rico Powers.
If Smith can return to his freshman season form, he’ll certainly be in play for an opening day start. The Gamecocks are lacking big bodies on the outside, and Smith has proven that he can be a major weapon when healthy. Look for offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to utilize Smith’s 6’ 4” frame when the Gamecocks get down near the redzone, and expect Smith to have a significant impact on the Carolina offense.