2024 4-star WR Ryan Wingo is ready for his turn
Ronnie Wingo played at Arkansas from 2009-2012. Raymond Wingo played at Missouri from 2015-2017. Ryan Wingo is next in line.
The 6-foot-2, 198-pound wide receiver out of St. Louis (Mo.) St. Louis University saw his brothers have success in high school and go on to play in the SEC. The No. 6 prospect in the 2024 On3 Consensus already has 19 offers and he is ready for his turn.
“I want to finish what my brothers started,” Wingo told On3. “They were great, they are supportive, and it is my time. They are out here watching me workout, watching me get better, and it is my turn to be a recruit.”
There is no pressure to follow in either brother’s footsteps. The family wants the elite playmaker to choose his own path.
“Their biggest advice is to be free with my thoughts and my decisions. My family wants me to have the freedom to do all of this on my own. They are not pushing me to go in any direction, but to make the best decision for me.
“It is all just getting started, and I am excited about it.”
Wingo is looking forward to getting out on visits
Wingo was able to take in games at Arkansas and Notre Dame during the season. Each school has offered and he enjoyed his time in Fayetteville and South Bend.
“I loved the vibe at Arkansas,” Wingo said. “My brother played there, so I had been before, but I love the fans. Coach Sam Pittman is doing a very good job and I like everything Arkansas is doing.
“Notre Dame was great too. I loved the fans at Notre Dame. It is a top-tier program with a really good atmosphere.”
A lot of schools will be connecting with Wingo when Sept. 1 rolls around. Communication is limited now due to him being a sophomore, but he has numerous schools on his radar that he’s like to check out in the coming months.
“Texas A&M, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Ole Miss, Florida, and Michigan State are some schools I want to visit. I am open to all schools and I would love to see them all, so I want to visit as many as possible.”
Wingo is set to run track again this spring, so he does not have a lot of free time. In track last year, Wingo ran the 100m in 10.8 seconds and the 200m in 21.9 seconds. On the field in the fall, he finished with 638 yards receiving on 32 receptions and 15 total touchdowns.
No visits are scheduled yet.
It is early, but Wingo knows what’s most important to him
He saw two brothers go through the recruiting process. A lot has changed in recent years, and there is a lot for each recruit to consider when making his decision, but Wingo has a good idea of what he is looking for.
“I know a lot of people are talking about the NIL, but that is probably the least important thing to me,” Wingo said. “Before that was even possible, it was about football, and that is what is most important to me.
“I want to be around great players. The teammates will be like big brothers to me, so that is what I am looking for. I want to be around guys that will work hard, teach me, and play hard. Being around great teammates is very important.”
He will be looking at other things too as he starts to evaluate his options.
“Fans are important too. I think players need to feel loved, need to feel supported, so great fans will be something else on my list. Being a receiver, I will look at quarterbacks too. Who is on the roster, who is coming in, and things like that.”
The options are open for Wingo now. The schools his brothers played for will have no influence on his decision. He grew up a fan of a school in the Big Ten, but that will not factor into his decision either.
“Penn State was my dream school growing up. I love the fans, the White Out games, and how they have always developed that top receiver.
“I want to get up there to visit, but I am looking at all the schools the same. Every offer is a blessing and I can’t wait to get out there and see more schools.”