Mekhi Wingo DT LSU | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Mekhi Wingo DT LSU
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: NT/DT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.85 seconds (93%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.6 DOB: 04/17/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: NT/DT | |
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 4.85 seconds (93%*) | |
| Age: 21.6 DOB: 04/17/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 83.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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80% |
| Pass Rush: |
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77% |
| Run Defense: |
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88% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#99
Position rank:
#18
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 1626 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 87/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Levi Onwuzurike - Washington |
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64% |
| Tommy Togiai - Ohio State |
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56% |
| Devonte Wyatt - Georgia |
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54% |
Drafted: ROUND: 6 - Pick Number: 189 (DET)
Draft Profile: Bio
Mekhi Wingo from DeSmet High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. After high school, Wingo joined Missouri.In 2021 as a freshman Wingo saw action in 12 games and played a total of 460 snaps for the Tigers. He recorded 21 tackles, 6 assists, while adding 15 stops. As a pass rusher, he added 14 total pressures, which included 10 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and 2 sacks on the season.
After season's end Wingo transferred to LSU where as a sophomore for the Tigers in 2022 Wingo played 13 games and took part in 777 snaps for the Tigers. He recorded 27 tackles, 11 assists, while adding 18 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 23 total pressures, and 19 QB hurries, one QB hit, and 3 sacks during the year.
In 2023 as a junior Wingo played in 7 games and contributed on 344 snaps. He recorded 13 tackles, 6 assists while making 8 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 14 total pressures, which included 9 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and 3 sacks on the year.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exhibits explosive first-step quickness and lateral redirection skills, enabling effective gap penetration and play disruption.
- Utilizes a high motor and a relentless pursuit of the ball, playing with significant urgency across all game aspects.
- Capable of leveraging his compact build to navigate multiple gaps, providing scheme versatility.
- Shows promising pass rush potential with active hands and a budding array of counter moves.
- Strong at the point of attack with the ability to anchor down against run plays, showcasing good hand usage to shed blocks.
- His bull rush is highlighted as a primary weapon, underpinning his ability to push linemen back and apply interior pressure.
- Offers a unique blend of strength and agility, effective in executing stunts and taking on double teams to free up teammates.
- Brings added value on special teams, particularly in kick block units, due to his size, speed, and power.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks a full arsenal of pass-rushing techniques
- Struggles with consistency in play finish and production, particularly in creating pressure and sacks.
- Can be neutralized by more powerfull guards and double teams, indicating a need for improved strength and leverage.
- His undersized stature for an NFL defensive tackle may hinder his ability to control gaps and maintain point of attack.
- While agile, he shows limitations in lateral mobility, affecting his ability to pursue plays on the edges.
Scouting Report: Summary
Mekhi Wingo's trajectory from the SEC to the NFL draft board underscores a DT with undeniable disruptiveness and a motor that doesn't quit. His tape is a clinic in backfield penetration, showcasing a DT who can shoot gaps with explosive burst and consistently disrupt the pocket. Wingo's lateral agility and high motor make him a nightmare for O-linemen, offering scheme versatility as a gap shooter and a run-stuffer. However, transitioning to the NFL spotlight, he'll need to bulk up his pass-rush toolbox and sharpen his hand combat to counter the advanced techniques of pro linemen. Despite an effective bull rush and solid anchor against the run, Wingo's limited size and arm length raise questions about his ability to stack and shed against the size and power prevalent in NFL trenches.The critiques on Wingo's draft evaluation often circle back to his dimensions and how they might cap his effectiveness against the more imposing interior O-lines of the NFL. Success at the next level will require him not just to rely on his first-step quickness but to develop a deeper repertoire of pass-rush moves and more sophisticated hand usage to disengage and penetrate. His high-energy play style and ability to occupy blockers are pluses, yet his path to becoming a staple in NFL defensive rotations hinges on mastering the nuances of interior D-line play. Teams considering Wingo will have to balance his immediate impact as a rotational player with the developmental curve needed to turn him into an every-down force.
Mekhi Wingo percentiles vs other Defensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Mekhi Wingo (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
86.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
26.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.