Ryan Wingo commits to Texas Longhorns
ST. LOUIS – Ryan Wingo is heading to Texas.
The St. Louis University High (Missouri) five-star wide receiver announced his verbal commitment to the Texas Longhorns during a ceremony at his school on Wednesday.
“It was super tough," Wingo said of the decision. "It came down to Mizzou and Texas and it was super, super hard having to pass up on Mizzou knowing it’s close to home, feel like home, everything like that. Like I said, I’m kind of creating my own path for myself going up there and being able to go to work.”
Wingo struggled with his ultimate decision – picking Texas or Missouri – leading up to his announcement. He even needed to take some time during the day on Wednesday to think.
“I actually had to leave school," he said. "Like I had to actually go sit down and think about it. And, really, I thought about it up there with the hats. That’s why it kind of took me a little longer – obviously my niece was coming up there too – to actually put the hat on. It was a super, super hard decision for sure. But I wish all the best to Mizzou.”
When it came time to make the announcement, Wingo brought his niece, Rylei, up to the table with the hats of his six finalists.
Rylei, whose father Raymond Wingo played wide receiver and defensive back at Missouri, had her back to the crowd but unzipped a jacket to reveal a Texas Longhorns t-shirt.
St. Louis University High senior wide receiver Ryan Wingo commits to Texas.
Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports
Wingo recently announced the six finalists he would be choosing from – Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Miami – and the date he would be making his long-awaited commitment. Ultimately, he picked the Longhorns over the Tigers.
"I think it's that (Steve) Sarkisian offense," Wingo said of what made the difference. "He's able to get his playmakers the ball, early and efficiently. I think that's the biggest thing."
Wingo's older brothers played at Arkansas and Missouri and his recruiting process started very early. He received his first offer, from the Missouri Tigers, while he was still in eighth grade.
"I have been blessed to be able to be a part of the ride with Ryan," said SLUH head coach Adam Cruz. "He is an unbelievable kid and watching him handle all of this with the grace and poise and confidence he has is unbelievable. He has shown me time and time again that he is mature, brave, independent, and selfless."
Wingo, the nation's No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 wide receiver in the Class of 2024, is a dynamic 6-foot-2, 205-pound speedster who has been linked to Georgia, Texas and then Missouri throughout the past few months.
He's visited Missouri several times over the years and made a return trip to Columbia last weekend as he watched the Tigers defeat South Carolina.
Among the others visitors in attendance was Lee's Summit North five-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri, the nation's No. 2 overall prospect, who committed to the Tigers in mid August.
Wingo, who also runs track, has showed his explosive skill set over four seasons on the varsity at SLUH.
This season, despite missing four games with an injury, he is averaging more than 100 total yards per game while being used primarily as a receiver and short-yardage wildcat quarterback.
Officially, Wingo has 32 catches for 469 yards and four touchdowns, has run 16 times for 80 yards and a score and also returned a punt 85 yards for a TD.
A year ago, as a junior, he caught 41 passes for 785 yards and 12 touchdowns, ran for 103 yards and a score and finished with 16 total TDs. As a sophomore he scored 15 touchdowns, catching 32 passes for 638 yards and 10 scores and running for 206 and four more TDs.
SLUH (5-4) hosts Hazelwood West (3-6) in a Class 6 District 3 quarterfinal game on Friday.
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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz
