2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Mekhi Wingo, a defensive lineman out of LSU. He is from St. Louis, MO, and was a 3-star recruit from DeSmet High School.
Wingo started his collegiate career at Missouri in 2021 and appeared in 12 games as a freshman. He got off to a good start racking up 14 solo tackles, 13 assists, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 1 touchdown.
He transferred to LSU for the 2022 season where he appeared in 14 games. He exploded in production for 25 solo tackles, 21 assists, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumbles recovered.
His collegiate career closed out in 2023 as a junior for LSU where he played in 8 games. He totaled 11 solo tackles, 14 assists, 5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Measurables
Height: 6’1” (8th-percentile)
Weight: 295 lbs (24th-percentile)
Age: 21.2
Class: Junior
NCAA Statistics
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2021 | Missouri | SEC | FR | DL | 12 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 40 | 40.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| *2022 | LSU | SEC | SO | 14 | 25 | 21 | 46 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| *2023 | LSU | SEC | JR | DT | 8 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | Overall | 50 | 48 | 98 | 13.0 | 8.5 | 1 | 40 | 40.0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Missouri | 14 | 13 | 27 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 40 | 40.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| LSU | 36 | 35 | 71 | 11.0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Is an elite penetrator out of the 3-technique.
- Has an extremely high motor and is more mobile than most at the position.
- He has great balance and hand usage and is tough to beat one-on-one.
- Can shed blocks quickly and efficiently and makes plays at an elite level.
Weaknesses
- He is a consistently disruptive force on the line and effectively penetrates the holes.
- Has a lack of variety in his pass-rushing moves and could use further development and refinement.
- Has short arms which limits his upside at the next level.
- He will likely not be a third-down player due to limitations in arms and technique.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late Round 3
Ideal Landing Spot: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles require an overhaul on the defensive side of the ball and snagging the high upside of Wingo in the third round could be exactly what they need to jumpstart the defense.
Wingo will need some time to develop and refine his techniques and pass-rushing moves, but if he were able to transition to the next level he has the upside to be an elite defender.
