Background
Mingo was born in Belle Glade, Florida.
Mingo was born in Belle Glade, Florida.
He attended West Monroe High School in West Monroe, Louisiana, where he was a letterman in football and track.
He was considered one of the top draft prospects, and was drafted by the Browns sixth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University.
He played football for the West Monroe Rebels team under head coach Don Shows. As a junior, he tallied 55 tackles to go with six sacks and 12 tackles for loss, leading this to be named All-state in Class 5A. As a senior in 2008, he was a 5A first-team All-state selection, after recording 59 tackles to go with 7 tackles for loss and four sacks in helping West Monroe to the state championship game.
He also added four forced fumbles and recovered seven fumbles.
He played in the 2009 United States. Army All-American Bowl. Also an standout track & field athlete, Mingo was a state qualifier as a sprinter.
At the 2008 Region I-5A Meet, he took gold in the 400-meter dash, with a Puerto Rico of 48.92, and ran the lead leg on the West Monroe 4 × 200m and 4 × 400m squads, helping them capture the state title in both events. At the 2009 LHSAA Outdoor State T&F Championships, he took 5th in the 200-meter dash, recording a career-best time of 21.85 seconds, and finished 6th in the 400-meter dash, with a time of 49.54 seconds.
Recruiting
According to Rivals.com and Scout.com, Mingo was four-star college recruiting prospect.
He was rated as the Number. 6 strong side linebacker by Scout.com and the Number. 9 by Rivals.com. He was rated as the Number.
5 best athlete among linebackers by Rivals.com.
He was rated as the Number. 3 player in the state of Louisiana by SuperPrep and the Number.
8 by Rivals.com. Mingo attended Louisiana State University, and played for coach Les Miles" Louisiana State University Tigers football team from 2009 to 2012.
He was redshirted in 2009. As a redshirt freshman in 2010, he started one of 13 games, recording 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
As a sophomore in 2011, Mingo was a second all-Securities and Exchange Commission selection after recording 47 tackles and 8 sacks. As a junior in 2012, he played in all 13 games with 10 starts, and earned second team All-Securities and Exchange Commission honors after recording 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 quarterback sacks.
He also led the Tigers with 12 quarterback hurries.
On January 7, 2013, he announced he would enter his name in the NFL Draft. He was one of 10 Louisiana State University tigers underclassmen to declare for the draft. 2013 NFL draft
Mingo was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns
= 2013 In the second preseason game against the Detroit Lions, Mingo suffered a bruised lung and was hospitalized.
= 2014 During his sophomore season 2014, Mingo racked up 42 tackles and 2 sacks in 15 games.
Overall in 2013, Mingo played 15 games with 42 tackles, 5 sacks, and 4 passes defended.
He was a member of the Rivals 250 and Scout 300.