#18 Mekhi Wingo Season 2024
2024 NFL Draft: Round 6, Pick No. 189 Overall by Detroit Lions
2023 LSU Permanent Team Captain
2023 AFCA Good Works Team
2023 SEC Community Service Team
2022 Third Team All-America (AP)
2022 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches, AP)
2022 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week vs. Ole Miss
2021 SEC Freshman All-SEC
NFL DRAFT
Selected in the sixth round with the No. 189 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions … One of three LSU defensive linemen picked in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining Maason Smith (2nd round) and Jordan Jefferson (4th round).
CAREER
Anchored LSU’s defensive line in his 2 years with the Tigers … Joined the Tigers in 2022 after playing 1 season (2021) at Missouri … Named 1 of 4 permanent team captains for LSU prior to the 2023 season … Presented the No. 18 jersey prior to the start of the 2023 season … The No. 18 jersey is given to the player who best represents the traits associated with LSU football and its mission to Graduate Champions … Played most of 2023 injured … One of 11 players nationally named to the Good Works Team by the America Football Coaches Association … Member of the 2023 SEC Community Service Team … Appeared in 33 games in his college career, starting 23 times … Finished with 99 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks … At LSU, played in 22 games (20 starts) and tallied 99 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks … Third-Team All-America and Second-Team All-SEC in his first year at LSU in 2022 … Joined LSU after a Freshman All-SEC season at Missouri … Team leader on and off the field … One of five LSU representatives on the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council … Majoring in mass communications … Took part in LSU’s Study Abroad program in May of 2023 when he joined 10 of his teammates on a 10-day trip to Senegal … Active in many community service endeavors including Baton Rouge Food Bank, the domestic violence shelter, literacy fest, and the Boys and Girls Club … Opted to forgo final season at LSU and entered the 2024 NFL Draft.
JUNIOR SEASON (2023 at LSU)
Appeared in 8 games with 7 starts … Named permanent team captain prior to season … One of 11 players selected for the AFCA Good Works Team … Named to the SEC Community Service Team … Played injured most of season … Missed final game of October (Army) and all 4 games in November with injury … Returned to action vs. Wisconsin the ReliaQuest Bowl and had his best game of season with 3 tackles, including 2 sacks … Sacks totaled 13-yards in losses and both came in fourth quarter … First sack came on third-and-10 and forced a punt … Second sack came on 3-and-15 at LSU 32-yard line as Wisconsin was attempting a last-minute comeback … Other sacks came in wins over Mississippi State, Arkansas and Auburn.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2022 at LSU)
Played in 14 games with 13 starts … Started final 13 games of the season … 47 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss (-34) and 3 sacks (-29) … Batted down 4 passes and credited with 5 quarterback hurries … SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in LSU’s win over Ole Miss … In that game had 7 tackles and 1.5 sacks for 18-yards in losses …. Also forced a fumble and batted down a pair of passes in the 45-20 LSU victory … Capped season with 2 tackles for loss and a sack for an 8-yard loss in win over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl … Had 4 tackles and batted down 2 passes in overtime win over Alabama … Opened season with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery vs. Florida State … Recovered fumble on LSU 1-yard line with just over a minute in contest and with Tigers trailing 24-17 … LSU marched down field and pulled to within 24-23 before falling after a blocked PAT after time had expired … Had 6 tackles in comeback road win over Auburn.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2021 at Missouri)
Appeared in 11 games, starting three times as a true freshman in 2021 … Starts came against North Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt … Earned Freshman All-SEC honors … Recorded 27 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss (-8) and a sack (-7) … Returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in win over North Texas … Had a sack for a 7-yard loss and a pair of tackles in college debut vs. Central Michigan … Had 4 tackles, a tackle for a loss, an interception and a quarterback hurry against North Texas … Closed season with career-best 6 tackles in Armed Forces Bowl vs. Army.
HIGH SCHOOL
Standout defensive lineman for De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Missouri … Helped team to 2021 6A state runner-up finish … Named Missouri 6A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … First team 6A All-State by the Missouri Football Coaches Association … First Team 6A All-State by the Missouri media … Metro Catholic Conference Defensive Player of the Year … Recorded 54 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and five sacks as a senior.
Mekhi Wingo’s Career Highs
Tackles: 7 vs. Ole Miss, 2022
Tackles for Loss: 2.0 vs. Wisconsin, 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl
Sacks: 2.0 vs. Wisconsin, 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl
Interceptions: 1 vs. North Texas, 2021 (at Missouri)
Pass Breakups: 2, 2x (Last: vs. Alabama, 2022; First: vs. Ole Miss, 2022)
Fumble Recovery: 1, 2x (Last: at Arkansas, 2022; First: vs. Florida State, 2022)
Forced Fumble: 1 vs. Ole Miss, 2022