Ryan Wingo highlights: SLUH 5-star wide receiver shines in 2023 season opener

Wingo catches nine passes for 143 yards, snags interception in win

ST. LOUIS – It was a Saturday night showdown between two of the area’s top teams and dynamic St. Louis University High senior wide receiver Ryan Wingo showed why he is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2024.

Wingo finished with nine catches for 143 yards and snagged a late interception to help secure a 38-21 victory at St. Mary’s, but it was two touchdowns in the second half that were called back via penalties that had the crowd buzzing.

On one, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder took a quick screen pass in the right flat, eluded would-be tacklers and did a spinning leap over another before turning on the track speed and racing into the end zone.

On the other, Wingo – scored 33 touchdowns in his first three high school seasons, including 16 a year ago – made a leaping catch in between two defenders down the right sideline, regained his balance and raced into the end zone.

Wingo’s two touchdowns didn’t count on Saturday but he still made a significant impact in the game with his playmaking ability on both sides of the ball as well as special teams, where he returns kicks and is the Junior Billikens’ punter.

SLUH, which went 3-7 a year ago against a tough schedule that included three state championship teams, picked up its first season-opening victory since 2019 and gained some early momentum for the 2023 campaign.

“It’s a big win for us,” Wingo said. “We faced some adversity in the beginning. We were up 14-0 in the first quarter and they came back and went up 21-14 and we fought back. I kind of knew we were going to have that type of comeback, especially because we have a way better team this year.”

The Junior Billikens showed that on Saturday night.

MARCO SANSONE STEPS UP

Senior quarterback Marco Sansone completed 20 of 25 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns (against one interception) and also ran for two scores.

“He was resilient,” SLUH coach Adam Cruz said. “He didn't have the best first half. He’d tell you he didn’t have the best first half. He missed some throws, threw a pick. But you know what? He was resilient. It was our word of the week, was resilient, and he definitely hung in there.”

As a first-year starter a year ago, as a junior, Sansone threw for 2,245 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for a score.

On Saturday he stepped up when his team needed him the most with a strong second-half performance.

“Going down 21-14 to start the second half, we just rallied together and just played our hardest,” Sansone said. “The run game is starting to get there and I mean, it's it's pretty easy to throw a few touchdowns and throw for a good amount of passing yards when you have Ryan Wingo, Joe (Harris), Landon (Pace), Nathan (Gunn), I mean, ballers, and Zach Allen too with two touchdowns.”

SOPHOMORE ALLEN BREAKS OUT

Sophomore wide receiver Zach Allen caught four passes for 58 yards and two scores after catching one pass for 14 yards in limited snaps at the varsity level a season ago.

The 6-1 sophomore showed he can make an impact for a SLUH offense that features Division I prospects like Wingo, senior wide receiver Joseph Harris and junior tight end Landon Pace.

“They were kind of shading over towards Ryan and Landon and Joe, which is expected, and Zach, you know, he had an opportunity and he totally took advantage of it,” Sansone said. “I mean, he's a baller. I expected that from him. We knew that was gonna happen and he's gonna be one to look out for for sure.”

SMITH SHINES FOR SLUH

St. Louis University High standout sophomore running back Jordan Taylor ran for 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in the first half before leaving the game with an injury.

Then senior running back John Smith, who finished sixth on the team in rushing yards a year ago, stepped in and stepped up.

Smith finished 109 total yards (71 rushing, 38 receiving) on 17 touches and kept the chains moving in the second half with some key runs and receptions.

“John Smith did an amazing job,” Cruz said. “John, at this time last week, was three on the depth chart. We had our backup (sophomore Kalaun Grace) get a little banged up, then Jordan (Taylor) went out in the first quarter with a knee and John stepped up big time.”

Sansone said losing Taylor hurt but Smith stepped up.

“He's one of the hardest working kids I know,” Sansone said. He's worked his (butt) off all summer. He's underlooked. He was third string in the summer and with Jordan (Taylor) going out and Kalaun (Grace) not being able to play he stepped up and he's always there when we need him. So he's a huge help.”

HARRIS HAS BIG GAME

SLUH sophomore linebacker-defensive back Keenan Harris showed why he garnered several Division I scholarship offers before his sophomore year. 

Harris, who landed at No. 17 in the SBLive Missouri list of top football prospects regardless of class going into this season, racked up 16 tackles and a sack in the season opener. 

Listed at 6-2 and 205 pounds, Harris showed speed and physicality while flying around the field making plays and looks poised for a big season.

Harris has already received scholarship offers from Penn State, Oregon, Tennessee, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Nebraska and others.

RYAN WINGO RECRUITING UPDATE

Wingo, who is ranked as the seventh-best prospect overall in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country but is not ready to make a decision.

“Today, I kind of put it to the side,” he said. “I talked to a few coaches today, but I’m trying to focus on the season. My recruiting is still open, but I’m trying to focus on the season and wait until after the season to kind of get into the recruiting stuff.”

Wingo received his first scholarship offer – from the University of Missouri – in the spring of his eighth-grade year and has been going through the recruiting process ever since.

“It’s a little bit difficult (to narrow down schools) because they all show you a lot of love,” he said. “But at the same time I think you just kind of go to a place that they need you the most and they love you the most.”

Asked if he has a timetable for making a decision, Wingo said: “I’m not sure yet but I’ll put it out online.”

LEONARD SHOWS OFF ABILITY

St. Mary’s senior quarterback David Leonard stepped up a year ago as a junior and guided the talented Dragons to their second straight state championship.

The left-handed QB passed for 1,566 yards and 18 touchdowns (with three interceptions) and also ran for 421 yards and six scores – racking up nearly 2,000 total yards and 24 touchdowns – as St. Mary’s went 12-2.

On Saturday, Leonard did everything he could to will the Dragons to victory against visiting SLUH.

He ran for 149 yards and threw for 131 yards with two touchdowns – to Roderick Brown and Antonio Strong – and two interceptions. His TD pass to Strong to start the second half gave the Dragons a 21-14 lead after they fell behind 14-0 early.

“David Leonard, I have all the respect in the world for him because he played his butt off,” said Cruz, the SLUH coach. “And we knew he would though. He's a two-time state champion. We knew he would and he played like it.”

NEW-LOOK ST. MARY’S REBUILDS

The Dragons went 24-3 over the previous two seasons in winning back-to-back state championships – Class 4 in 2022 and Class 3 in 2021 – but have a much different look this fall.

The school was targeted for closure at the end of the 2022-23 by the St. Louis Archdiocese but worked to stay open and is now back with a new name: St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School.

The Dragons lost their head coach, Ken Turner, who took the same position at Belleville West (Ill.) and was replaced by Brian Simmons.

St. Mary’s graduated several key players – including Jamal Roberts (University of Missouri), Donovan McIntosh (Kansas State), Chase Hendricks (Ohio), Gabe Booker, Kaliel Boyd and Farand Washington – and lost others to transfer, including offensive linemen Steven and Shane Jamison (East St. Louis) and wide receiver De’Shaun Stevenson (Cardinal Ritter).

Leading the way in 2023 will be seniors Leonard, Antonio Strong (six INTs a year ago), Zamier Collins (70 tackles, six sacks in 2022) and Roderick Brown. 

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