Judging by Somourian Wingo’s demeanor, you’d never guess that he stands on the brink of a seismic shift—from the clamor of high school corridors to the scorching lights of the University of Miami.
The four-star wide receiver radiates composure. His tone is unhurried, his gaze steady, his words chosen with the same precision he brings to a 3rd down sideline route.
It’s the frame that betrays his specialized lethality: at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, he carries the coiled energy of a viper poised to strike.
Defenses have learned the hard way. Wingo charred secondaries last season with 65 catches, 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns. That pace has continued for the undefeated Jackets and Coach Brian Braddock this year.
For now, though, he remains a teenager with a backpack slung over one shoulder, earbuds in, weaving through the crowded halls of his hometown high school.
“Sa-mor-ian,” he says with a smile, gently correcting The Citizen’s pronunciation during a sit down in Braddock’s classroom.
Born and raised in the Old City, Wingo is the second-oldest of six children in a family of eight.
His mother, a certified nursing assistant, spends her days steadying trembling hands and coaxing final bites from elderly patients. His stepfather clocks long hours on the highway, helping families move as a driver.
“My mom’s up early every day and sometimes stays late,” Wingo says. “It taught me you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do—take care of your people.”
Sports were the rhythm of his youth. “I started in Pop Warner at 6 or 7,” he said. For a while, basketball stole his attention—AAU tournaments, late nights in empty gyms—until his sophomore year, when he found his way back to the gridiron.
“That’s when Coach James and Coach Merrill told me, ‘You can be really good if you come to work every day,’” Wingo says.
These were not voices to be ignored. Offensive coordinator Brandon James, a former Yellow Jacket turned legendary Florida Gator, and wide receivers coach Markis Merrill, another St. Augustine alum and college standout at Jacksonville State, saw something rare in their young pupil.
Wingo absorbed their blue-collar wisdom, and became a star.
The first offer came in an ordinary place—the cafeteria—during his sophomore year. Liberty University. “It felt great,” he recalls. “It gave me confidence.” The school hallway had suddenly turned into a horizon.
Then came the flood – and finally a hurricane: Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Michigan—and Miami. He committed after a weeklong spring visit to Coral Gables. “I watched practices, hung out with players, saw the day-to-day,” he said.
Family sealed the choice. “I wanted them close enough to come to games,” he said. His parents guided, but never pushed. “They saw what I saw in Miami.”
Now, as a top recruit, Wingo’s world hums with the noise of NIL deals and social media buzz. But there’s an agent for that. He keeps his focus simple: football and school.
The discipline that undergirds Braddock’s storied program has been internalized. “Coaches are tough,” he said. “Freshman year I didn’t always get it, but I learned it’s tough love. I understand now.”
Braddock sees something deeper. “He’s done a really good job of staying a great teammate and handling his business while all the recruiting attention’s been going on,” he said. “That’s not easy for a kid with the next big thing right around the corner. He’s a really, really tough kid at a finesse position — physically dominant but with plenty of finesse.”
Off the field, life is quieter—friends, NCAA Football, Fortnite.
Soon, the hallways of St. Augustine will be only a memory, replaced by the glare of stadium lights and the heavy weight of expectation.
But for now, his focus is simpler: a state-title run with his teammates.
“Playing professional ball is the goal,” Wingo said of his NFL dream. “But I want to finish strong. To finish what we started.”
SPECIAL THANKS TO MARK CUBBEDGE FOR USE OF HIS PHOTOS. PLEASE CHECK OUT HIS WORK HERE
