Tag: Mekhi Wingo

Oklahoma among final four of SEC All-Freshman Team DL transfer Mekhi Wingo’s list

OU is still in the running for Missouri defensive lineman transfer Mekhi Wingo. Wingo earned SEC All-Freshman Team status in 2021.

Players listen when Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables and co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates come calling.

That’s been the case for Missouri defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo. Wingo entered the transfer portal recently, received an offer from the Sooners and announced Oklahoma had made the cut in his final four schools.

Wingo is choosing among Oklahoma, Arkansas, LSU and USC.

LSU just hired Wingo’s former high school coach and former Missouri defensive back Robert Steeples onto its staff, so that figures to be a challenge for the Sooners’ attempt to win Wingo’s transfer portal recruitment.

Wingo recorded 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception during the 2021 season. The Saint Louis, Missouri, native returned that interception 40 yards for a touchdown against North Texas.

Wingo earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team for his play in 2021. In the Tigers’ bowl game against Army, Wingo had six tackles.

No pun intended, but the Sooners have some holes to plug up front along their defensive line after outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas and defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey declared for the 2022 NFL draft.

Bonitto, Thomas and Winfrey each ranked among Oklahoma’s top-three tackles for loss and sacks production leaders in 2021. Bonitto had 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks, Thomas recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks and Winfrey registered 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

OU returns defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. Redmond is set to be a redshirt junior and he finished with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in nine games during the 2021 season.

Oklahoma has already added one defensive lineman out of the transfer portal. Hawaii defensive lineman Jonah Laulu recently announced his commitment to the Sooners.

Laulu finished the 2021 season with 33 tackles and four sacks.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

Todd bates, Sooners pursuing All-SEC Freshman defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo

After a freshman season that saw him earn an ALL-SEC freshman nod, DL Mekhi Wingo entered the transfer portal is being pursued by OU.

Todd Bates has hit the ground running since he landed in Norman. He’s offering guys from the 2024 class, receiving calls from 2023 kids, and is now in pursuit of a very talented and productive freshmen defensive lineman from the SEC.

Missouri’s Mekhi Wingo entered his name into the transfer portal earlier this week and just days later has connected with Oklahoma and their new defensive tackles coach.

Wingo played a lot on the interior of Missouri’s defensive line in his first and only year in Eli Drinkwitz’s program. He was a three-star recruit out of high school and is Missouri raised. Considering he was part of the 2021 freshman class, he’ll have three more years of eligibility.

His first year was about as good as you can expect for a freshman playing in a conference oozing with the defensive line talent.

Wingo played in all 13 games for Missour in 2021 as a true freshman with four starts. He recorded 27 tackles and one sack and returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown. While the numbers weren’t particularly gaudy it’s clear he was very disruptive to garner such an honor.

While Todd Bates plans to pursue Wingo, it’s important to note that according to those linked more closely with the Missouri football program believe he could be heading further south to LSU. Wingo’s former high school coach, former Missouri defensive back Robert Steeples was just hired at LSU. LSU, like Oklahoma, is in a transition with a new head coach and could use an infusion of talent from someone like Wingo.

Other teams that are in pursuit of Mekhi Wingo include USC, Nebraska, UNC, and West Virginia. The first step will be getting Wingo in for a visit and with Todd Bates recruiting prowess and the need for more bodies, you have to like Oklahoma’s chances.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

[listicle id=52729]