De Smet defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo was one of the first to jump on board for Missouri's 2021 class back in January. He has since become 1 of 5 St.Louis recruits to commit to Eli Drinkwitz and the Mizzou football program. Wingo was a headliner for the 2021 class and one of the main voices in the class actively trying to get more players on board.
At 6'0", 290lbs, Wingo is thought to have a "small frame" for a defensive tackle, but he makes up for it in the way he plays. Wingo is explosive off the ball and has a quick-twitch way of moving around his opponents and he is a very good athlete. Wingo, a 2019 All-Metro first team selection and Class 6A Missouri State Champion in football, recorded just under 100 tackles, 15 sacks, and 29 tackles for a loss. as a Junior.
All of that being said, Wingo looks to contribute for Missouri and Eliah Drinkwitz at the collegiate level on the field just like he did off of it with his recruiting efforts. However, Wingo thinks Drinkwitz will continue to create ripples in St.Louis recruiting.
"Enthusiastic". That was the adjective Wingo used when asked to use one word to describe coach Drinkwitz. Having an enthusiastic personality can go a long way in convincing kids to play for your program. That is the type of energy Drinkwitz brings to the university. Recruits want you to be excited to see them and you not only have to win over the players, you have to win over the coaches as well so they feel good sending a kid off to your program. Drinkwitz has done exactly that.
Drinkwitz has been impressive in recruiting Saint Louis landing many of the top ten players in the area including Mehki Wingo, Tyler Hibbler, Travion Ford, Taj Butts, and most recently Isaac Thompson for the 2022 class who ranks top-150 nationally. When asked about why kids around the area, both committed and uncommitted, seem so excited about Drinkwitz in the St.Louis area, Wingo replied, "I think he is being more successful because he is actually making us a priority and making us want to stay in the state".
Of course, Drinkwitz has only been the coach for a short time now and while his inaugural season has been ravaged by covid, the team is currently 4-3 with wins over a ranked LSU, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Wingo thinks Drinkwitz's early success is impressive, stating, "I have been very impressed with the team. A lot would say he has already overachieved for his first year as a coach in the SEC". Many around the nation have taken notice of the impressive start and coach Drinkwitz has used it as recruiting momentum.
The class of 2021 is expected to sign in just a couple weeks and while they haven't yet hit Faurot field, WIngo has extreme confidence that this class will be the class to kickstart the "NewZou" moniker locally and nationally and keep what Drinkwitz and staff have trending early. "I think this 2021 class will add onto what they already have going and bring even more dawg to the team".
The 2021 class is expected to finish out in the top-30 nationally and is currently ranked 26th with Drinkwitz still looking to add more. If everything pans out, the class will be the highest rated since Gary Pinkel's 25th-ranked class from 2015 that featured Drew Lock and Terry Beckner. Drinkwitz said from the first day he got here that, "Recruiting is the lifeblood of our program" and that he wanted to lock down the borders. That's easier said than done but so far, Drinkwitz is making roadways from St.Louis to Columbia.
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