Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Player Summary

Obi Melifonwu, a 2012 three-star recruit, started 47 of 48 career games at Connecticut. He missed one game in his career, the 2014 season finale against SMU, after undergoing shoulder surgery. He started all 12 games at free safety as a senior, leading the team with 118 tackles and four interceptions, earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

In his final collegiate game, Melifonwu set a school record with 24 tackles against Tulane. He played for three different head coaches and two defensive coordinators in his career. He possesses elite size and length on a strong frame with very good athletic ability.

Measureables

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 219 lbs.

Arm: 32-5/8”

Hand: 8-3/4”

Games Watched

2016: Cincinnati, Syracuse, Temple, Virginia

2015: Marshall, South Florida

Strengths

Obi Melifonwu reads the quarterback well on straight drop backs with loose hips to get in and out of his backpedal or change direction based on what he sees from zone coverage. That explosive change of direction, in addition to taking solid angles, provides him with the play speed necessary to cover a lot of ground and get to the ball from a deep zone.

Once he takes off, Melifonwu displays elite closing speed. In the play below, he’s lined up 11 yards off the slot receiver on the right side of the offense. He maintains a good angular body position throughout the stem of the route. Once the receiver makes his break on the comeback route, Melifonwu demonstrates a very good plant and drive as he explodes to the point of attack. His elite closing speed comes into play as he’s able to prevent the receiver from gaining any yards after the catch.

Melifonwu does have some position versatility as he played a lot of man coverage with the Huskies, both against slot and outside receivers. He mirrors the receivers well and forces the quarterback to throw into tight windows as a result of solid man coverage skills.

Once again, his closing speed comes into play when playing man. In this play from the Temple game, Melifonwu is mirroring the receiver from a semi-trail position. He undercuts the route and displays good ball skills to make a play and intercept the pass. He picked off two passes in this game, both in similar fashion.

Melifonwu is an aggressive run defender who goes from high to low quickly. He takes very good angles to the ball carrier, avoiding blockers along the way. He does a solid job constricting running lanes and possesses the play strength to win one-on-one battles in the hole. He’s a very good finisher who squares up the ball carrier and wraps up to make the stop.

The following play is an example of his overall good run support skills. He diagnoses the play immediately and takes a very good angle to the ball while avoiding blockers as he goes from high to low. He shows off good play speed to get to the ball carrier with the finishing skills to drop the running back at the line of scrimmage for no gain.

Melifonwu possesses good competitive toughness, as he played much of the 2014 season with a shoulder injury that would require surgery.

Weaknesses

Obi Melifonwu can be fooled by play action due to his overaggressiveness. As a result, opposing offenses had success on passes deep downfield off play action when Melifonwu was the lone deep safety in Cover 1. Once the ball is in the air, he displays marginal tracking skills, playing the receiver more so than the ball.

An example of that can be seen here against Virginia. Melifonwu breaks toward the ball quickly, however immediately targets the receiver. He goes for the knockout rather than make a play on the ball, which he was in a very good position to do. The pass is just past the outstretched arms of the receiver, but Melifonwu’s poor decision could have resulted in a big gain. Simply breaking up the pass would have forced Virginia to punt the ball out of their own endzone.

Here’s a still image of the play, which clearly shows where Melifonwu’s eyes are on the play.

Despite having imposing size and speed from the safety position, Melifonwu does not play a physical style of football. He’s not an enforcer who will make his opponent think twice about going over the middle of the field, which is typically the case with someone his size. His surgically-repaired shoulder may have something to do with this, so NFL teams will have to evaluate whether or not he can be coached up in this area. In the age of physical safeties like Keanu Neal and Karl Joseph being selected in the first round, taking Melifonwu in round one would be going against the grain.

Overall

Overall, Obi Melifonwu is a starting safety at the next level who wins with athletic ability and instincts. He’s not someone who should be asked to be the lone deep safety. As a result, Melifonwu would fit in anything besides a Cover 1 scheme.

His versatility will appeal to teams as he has experience as a safety, cornerback and nickelback. Much like another former Connecticut defensive back, Byron Jones, Melifonwu’s future should be at the safety position. He’s a player on the rise this offseason and a combine performance similar to that of Jones, could elevate his stock into round one. For now however, Melifonwu is a day two prospect with a high ceiling.