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UConn safety Obi Melifonwu

jradMIT

jradMIT

Veteran
The Texans in their tenure have never had a true quality safety, Walter football reports from the Senior Bowl. Demps is a free agent, and although he had a lot of picks, he got caught on more than a few occasions looking in and getting burnt for a huge score. The SD game and Jax game come to mind. A safety would find a good home and really add a dimension that the team really needs.

One prospect that is creating a buzz is UConn safety Obi Melifonwu. He was one of the stars of the weigh-in, as he checked in at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds and obviously is a dedicated patron of the weight room. During the fall, scouting sources told WalterFootball.com that Melifonwu would rise in the lead up to the draft because he is a workout warrior and was putting together a quality senior season. He totaled 118 tackles, three passes broken up, and four interceptions on the year.

Some sources believe Melifonwu could be a versatile safety with the size and speed to cover tight ends in man coverage. They also feel he can walk down into the box like Deone Bucannon and be an enforcer like Kam Chancellor. While it is very early in the process, here are five teams that are showing a lot of interest in Melifonwu: Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2017rumors4.php#Voyu3PDHlPmIxQEK.99
 
His draft stock will depend a lot on how well he performs speed turns during his back pedal drills at the combine. If he has hips like Taylor Mays he will go in the middle rounds, but if he shocks everyone and makes buttery turns like Harrison Smith did he could move into the first.
 
I really like his length, closing speed, athleticism, etc... I've had him in the 4th round of my mocks for a couple months. I think he's got the size and speed to handle TE's and RB's in pass coverage as well as a willingness to play the run.
 
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gs27 said:
His draft stock will depend a lot on how well he performs speed turns during his back pedal drills at the combine. If he has hips like Taylor Mays he will go in the middle rounds, but if he shocks everyone and makes buttery turns like Harrison Smith did he could move into the first.
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Per Walter football fro Thursday practice reports
UConn safety Obi Melifonwu has had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he was impressive on Thursday. Melifonwu is a big safety who can be the eighth man in the box, but he showed impressive range in the team scrimmage. The Bears staff had Meilfonwu being the lone deep safety on a lot of plays, and he covered a lot of ground. Even though Melifonwu is big, he is not stiff as an athlete, showing some ability to open up his hips and run. After his week in Mobile, there has been some buzz about Melifonwu having late first-round potential.




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jradMIT said:
Per Walter football fro Thursday practice reports
UConn safety Obi Melifonwu has had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he was impressive on Thursday. Melifonwu is a big safety who can be the eighth man in the box, but he showed impressive range in the team scrimmage. The Bears staff had Meilfonwu being the lone deep safety on a lot of plays, and he covered a lot of ground. Even though Melifonwu is big, he is not stiff as an athlete, showing some ability to open up his hips and run. After his week in Mobile, there has been some buzz about Melifonwu having late first-round potential.


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I'm sure after the Combine he won't make it past the 1st round. I guess the question becomes, should the Texans take him with their 1st pick if he's there at #25?
 
Insideop said:
I'm sure after the Combine he won't make it past the 1st round. I guess the question becomes, should the Texans take him with their 1st pick if he's there at #25?
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That would depend on who else is available
 
Based on what I've watched I do not see him as an in the box type of safety. He is not afraid of contact, but he's not very physical either. Clearly looks like he's much more happy back playing coverage rather than coming up to make a hit.

Also saw some bad angles on ball carriers but his athleticism still let him get there although the ball carrier tended to get a few extra yards because of the angles.

Now that I think about it, I t may be due to him not wanting to come down hill and meet players but rather "catch" them and make the tackle that way.

Saw some impressive plays made in one on one coverage. With seasoning he might be able to play some corner on bigger receivers if a team wanted to go that direction. Hard to say though because the one on one match ups didn't test him all that much with opposing player skill or route running.

Based on what I saw I would consider him as a potential first round pick. Need to see how he runs and his agility drills though.
 
Per PFF from the Senior bowl
S Obi Melifonwu, 80.8
On the back end, safeties Obi Melifonwu and Lorenzo Jerome illustrated ideal center-field play. The St. Francis product picked off a pair of passes, reading Antonio Pipkin’s eyes perfectly on one red-zone pick. Jerome proved his potential by stepping up with the level of competition. The same can be said of Connecticut’s Melifonwu, who filled running lanes with authority throughout the day.
 
S Obi Melifonwu, 80.8

On the back end, safeties Obi Melifonwu and Lorenzo Jerome illustrated ideal center-field play. The St. Francis product picked off a pair of passes, reading Antonio Pipkin’s eyes perfectly on one red-zone pick. Jerome proved his potential by stepping up with the level of competition. The same can be said of Connecticut’s Melifonwu, who filled running lanes with authority throughout the day.
 
per PFF

S Obi Melifonwu, 80.8

On the back end, safeties Obi Melifonwu and Lorenzo Jerome illustrated ideal center-field play. The St. Francis product picked off a pair of passes, reading Antonio Pipkin’s eyes perfectly on one red-zone pick. Jerome proved his potential by stepping up with the level of competition. The same can be said of Connecticut’s Melifonwu, who filled running lanes with authority throughout the day.
 
Melifonwu lit up the combine today with his numbers. An insane 44 inch vertical and 141 inch broad jump. Throw in the 4.40 40 just for kicks. In this insane DB class does he make it into the first round?
 
jradMIT said:
Melifonwu lit up the combine today with his numbers. An insane 44 inch vertical and 141 inch broad jump. Throw in the 4.40 40 just for kicks. In this insane DB class does he make it into the first round?
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I wonder if a team like Seattle or Atlanta would think about making him a press corner?
 
jradMIT said:
Per Walter football fro Thursday practice reports
UConn safety Obi Melifonwu has had an excellent Senior Bowl, and he was impressive on Thursday. Melifonwu is a big safety who can be the eighth man in the box, but he showed impressive range in the team scrimmage. The Bears staff had Meilfonwu being the lone deep safety on a lot of plays, and he covered a lot of ground. Even though Melifonwu is big, he is not stiff as an athlete, showing some ability to open up his hips and run. After his week in Mobile, there has been some buzz about Melifonwu having late first-round potential.




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Click to expand...
Yep, his hips are just fine. This guy is a freak. If he makes it to 25, no way we can pass on this guy. How many of the top 24 picks can be DBs?
 
gs27 said:
His draft stock will depend a lot on how well he performs speed turns during his back pedal drills at the combine. If he has hips like Taylor Mays he will go in the middle rounds, but if he shocks everyone and makes buttery turns like Harrison Smith did he could move into the first.
Click to expand...
Well he did all that today.
 
gs27 said:
Yep, his hips are just fine. This guy is a freak. If he makes it to 25, no way we can pass on this guy. How many of the top 24 picks can be DBs?
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As many as 10 or more

Hooker, peppers, Adams, Baker, Lattimore, Jones, Humphrey, Melifonwu, Conley, Jackson, D King, White, Tabor to name some.


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Got to watch Obi's vertical jump and broad jump videos below:



NFL‏Verified account@NFL


UNBELIEVABLE! Obi Melifonwu (DB - @UConnFootball) has a 44" vertical jump.
1f631.png
1f631.png
1f631.png
#NFLCombine
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/838775690530967552
VIDEO
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/838775690530967552




________________________________________________________________________________________


He almost jumped TOO far! This is crazy: Obi Melifonwu (DB - @UConnFootball) broad jumps 11'9"!!! #NFLCombine


VIDEO
[/QUOTE]
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As far as physical specimens go, he's your Combine Winner! Every 4-5 years or so a Workout Warrior surfaces. Is this guy a Boom or Bust? This year's version of Vernon Gholston or Mike Mamula?
 
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Texian said:
As far as physical specimens go, he's your Combine Winner! Every 4-5 years or so a Workout Warrior surfaces. Is this guy a Boom or Bust? This year's version of Vernon Gholston or Mike Mamula?
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Except he has production behind him. Mamula had a few good yrs in the nfl also. Never liked gholston.
 
Texian said:
As far as physical specimens go, he's your Combine Winner! Every 4-5 years or so a Workout Warrior surfaces. Is this guy a Boom or Bust? This year's version of Vernon Gholston or Mike Mamula?
Click to expand...

I really like how he came up in run support at the Sr. Bowl. Those type of guys with that type of athletic ability usually do well in the NFL. Did you line how Byron Jones played for the Cowboys last yr. I expect Obi's rookie seaon to be about the same. Definitely worth a 1st rd pick.
 
Texian said:
As far as physical specimens go, he's your Combine Winner! Every 4-5 years or so a Workout Warrior surfaces. Is this guy a Boom or Bust? This year's version of Vernon Gholston or Mike Mamula?
Click to expand...

I've yet to watch him play. One of the only noteworthy safeties I haven't watched.
 
mussop said:
I'd rather have Josh Jones S UNC
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Jones, Baker, Melifonwu, King, Williams one will be there, if they don't like the tackles, they can get a real good safety. I'm liking Williams the best


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jradMIT said:
Jones, Baker, Melifonwu, King, Williams one will be there, if they don't like the tackles, they can get a real good safety. I'm liking Williams the best


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I like Baker but seeings how there are now 2 240 plus pound young running backs in our division I want a bigger safety.
 
I really like Melifonwu, Jones, and Williams, but we've got to address OT in the 2nd round. Protection for our new QB should be our highest priority.
 
Wolf6151 said:
I really like Melifonwu, Jones, and Williams, but we've got to address OT in the 2nd round. Protection for our new QB should be our highest priority.
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I'm still hoping we sign the offensive tackle that Cleveland released that's a free agent right now.
 
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