Mekhi Wingo, IDL, LSU
Size:
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 284 pounds
Arm Length: 32”
Hand Size: 9 1/4"
Accomplishments:
Third Team All-America (2022) • Second Team All-SEC (2022) • Freshman All-SEC (2021)
“Mekhi Wingo is an interior defensive lineman with the get-off and twitch to consistently disrupt the pocket and the athleticism to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.”
Strengths:
Power
High athletic profile
Twitch
Bend
Quick footwork
Concerns:
Undersized
Length
Stack/shed vs. run
Film Analysis:
Mekhi Wingo is a twitched-up interior defensive lineman with the get-off to consistently disrupt the pocket and the athleticism to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.
Against the run, if linemen aren’t able to establish their hands quickly, a rep can be lost in the blink of an eye. Same can be said against Wingo in pass pro. Length remains below average for the position, which limits his ability to stack/shed at a high level, but Wingo does an excellent job of using leverage and his footwork to move the opposition into spots where he can win off of. Active on the backside with a hunger for the football that is evident on tape. Can play up and down the defensive line with snaps at 1-tech, 3 (outside shoulder of the guard), 4 (head up on the tackle), 5 (outside shoulder of the OT), and as a wide-nine (outside the TE) on occasion. Explosiveness off the snap can quickly disrupt timing. Excellent as a slasher working down the line.
As a pass rusher, Wingo moves like a man of much smaller stature. He can explode through blocks, quickly working up to the pocket. Linemen will often attempt to shock with their hands, jolting Wingo back off the snap to slow his feet. Due to his lack of length, his get-off will remain paramount to creating pressures at the next level. Presenting Wingo a runway of a yard or two can see him quickly swim and rip his way through isolated blockers. Interior linemen that utilize a shallow kick-step with a good anchor and long arms will give Wingo issues.
Wingo forced a heavy amount of double teams in his career. Excellent twister and has a pass-rush repertoire that has continued to evolve (club/rip/hop-chop). Elite bend at his size to threaten the outside shoulder. Can win, at times, simply as the higher-level athlete at his size. Totaled five pressures and two sacks against Wisconsin in his final game as a Tiger (after missing time due to injury).
Overall, Wingo projects as an upfield, aggressive defender who could be best suited as a 3-4 DE or a versatile 1 and 3 inside an even front—though more bulk could be warranted in both situations. Versatility remains a plus, however. Teams that desire an immediate upgrade in interior push on passing downs will prioritize Wingo despite his lack of length and overall mass.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Exposures: Florida State (2023), Missouri (2023), Wisconsin (2023)
