Part of playing his best ball could depend on D.J. Wonnum. The duo only had the second half of the season together this year after Wonnum experienced dangerous complications from a quad injury suffered last season. Once the outside linebacker was on the field again though, Clowney felt like he was playing in a different defense.
“I’m going to get my boy right. I told him he just need to get healthy. He came back midseason and it changed. When he came back, he also changed the defense,” Clowney shared Sunday.
“The guy make plays. He was a big part of us in the second half of the year playing well, even for me playing well. When he came back, I started playing a lot better because I had him over there. I’m not saying nobody else wasn’t playing well. I ain’t trying to say that, but I like DJ. He’s a Gamecock, you know, so that’s my boy, man.”
As Wonnum was rehabbing, Clowney tried to be there for the teammate he’d never shared a snap with, offering advice and support whenever possible.
“I just want to see him succeed and be great,” Clowney said. “I try to help him because he kind of reminded me of myself with the injuries. I started off early. He got a few, so I try to tell him all year long, how to manage certain things, what he should do this offseason to get ahead of it for next year.
“So I think DJ going to bounce back next year, have a great year.”