5-star WR Ryan Wingo talks his growing interest in Miami and fall official visit plans with the Hurricanes

Since his return to Miami in March, Hurricanes wide receivers coach Kevin Beard has been instrumental in the program’s recruiting efforts, putting Miami in contention to land several blue-chip wideouts in the 2024 class, including five-star St. Louis (Mo.) University wide receiver Ryan Wingo.

After being offered by Miami over a year ago, the Hurricanes were on the outside looking in but have since positioned themselves as a true threat to land the elite wideout thanks to Beard.

“It’s coach Beard,” Wingo told CaneSport when asked why the Hurricanes are a program he is seriously considering. “Miami was kind of out of it because the old receiver coach wasn’t recruiting me too well, so I wasn’t high on them. When coach Beard came, the first call we had was almost two hours long. During that first call, he showcased everything I’m looking for. He was straightforward with me, and you want that out of a coach during this recruiting process.

“Everyones got their recruiting words and then there are some coaches that keep it real with you and he’s one of the coaches for sure. Obviously, he’s got his recruiting words too, but he’s a coach that keeps it real and lives by the facts.” 

Wingo, the No. 28 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, says Beard’s message about him coming in and potentially changing the program has piqued his interest in the Hurricanes.

“He really just tells me about the opportunity to change Miami for the better,” Wingo said. “They used to be so good in the early 2000s, and he just put that in my head and the other receiver recruits heads that we can be a change for a program that just kind of hasn’t been the same. That’s like the biggest pitch he always has, and it’s a great pitch because it’s true.” 

Wingo, who has a NIL valuation of $204,000, is neither unfamiliar with nor afraid of being a part of a program that is striving to revive itself.

“The high school I go to kind of had some off years going 1–9, and then I came in,” Wingo said. “The first year was a little bumpy, and then we came back the next year and began changing the program. What I’m really looking for is the thought that you could go be an impact player at a school. It just excites you for sure.”

In addition to Beard, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal has been very involved in his recruitment. Wingo feels that under Cristobal’s guidance, the Hurricanes will be able to turn the tide in year two. 

“He’s the same as coach Beard,” Wingo said. “Coach Cristobal is also a really straightforward person and a big family man. He always tells me about his kids catching fish because I like fishing. He’s just a good person and a good coach. He’s been a winner everywhere he’s been. Winning doesn’t always come during the first or second year. It takes time to develop a program, and I think he’s doing a good job.” 

Wingo discusses his second round of official visits 

It has been a busy summer for Wingo, who is coming off four official visits to Missouri, Texas, Georgia, and Michigan. But he is not done just yet.

“They went pretty good,” Wingo said. “They’re official visits, so the schools get to show out so much more than usual.”

During the fall, Wingo plans on taking a few more official visits, including one to Coral Gables with the Hurricanes. He hopes to catch a game when the time does come, which will play a large role in his final decision. 

“Most of them are going to be during the season, so I’m really just going to be focused on how they really utilize their receivers,” Wingo said. “I think that’s going to be my biggest thing. Just while I’m at the games watching, just because I think being able to watch them coach is going to be much better.”

With his second slate of official visits ahead, he knows what he’ll be focused on this time around as he hopes to announce his commitment after the fall. 

“I’ll be looking at how a team’s season is going and how they utilize their receivers,” Wingo said. “Obviously, also the campus life and how you like the school. I think the visits will play a big role in it. You remember everything if you like a school. It’s really just how they utilize their receivers and how good they do.” 

CaneSport’s take 

Texas is trending to land Wingo, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, but we feel his recruitment is far from done. With his relationship with Beard being a big factor in his interest in Miami, if the Hurricanes can produce and demonstrate to Wingo that the receivers be productive at a high level, Miami should be a real contender to land the five-star recruit.