No. 18 finally has his home
It took longer than expected, but Mekhi Wingo’s wait is finally over.
Wingo was picked in the sixth round, 189th overall, by the Detroit Lions. He is the sixth LSU player selected, and third drafted today.
Wingo transferred to LSU after beginning his collegiate career at Missouri. He was a freshman All-American at Mizzou and has been LSU’s best defensive linemen over the past two seasons.
His sophomore season was his best season. Wingo had a career-best 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and batted down four passes; Wingo elevating his game was especially important seeing as Maason Smith tore his ACL in the 2022 season opener and LSU essentially played that entire season with just three defensive tackles.
Wingo’s efforts in 2022 were rewarded with a second-team All-SEC selection, and coming into the 2023 season he was named a permanent team captain and awarded the prestigious No. 18 jersey.
Wingo missed the back half of the 2023 season with a lower body injury but returned for LSU’s bowl game against Wisconsin. Wingo’s last game of the 2023 season was his best as he had three tackles and two sacks in the fourth quarter to help LSU rally back and beat the Badgers.
Wingo went lower than most probably expected. Despite being a tad undersized for a defensive tackle, most draft pundits still had Wingo ranked as a top-100 prospect. But where you get picked doesn’t matter, Wingo has a home and now he’ll get a chance to earn a roster spot with the up and coming Lions.
LSU’s 2024 draft class is as follows:
- Jayden Daniels: 2nd overall, Washington Commanders
- Malik Nabers: 6th overall, New York Giants
- Brian Thomas Jr.: 23rd overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Maason Smith: 48th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jordan Jefferson: 116th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Mekhi Wingo: 189th overall, Detroit Lions