Obi Melifonwu Playing in Senior Bowl this Saturday (1/28 @ 2:30ET) | The Boneyard

Obi Melifonwu Playing in Senior Bowl this Saturday (1/28 @ 2:30ET)

Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
86,938
Reaction Score
323,095
Top defensive NFL draft prospects in 2017 Senior Bowl | PFF

Senior-Bowl-Safeties.png


With the nation’s No. 2 coverage grade at 90.6, Nebraska’s Nate Gerry does a nice job of diagnosing plays and quickly breaking on the ball, leading to an impressive 13 interceptions and 11 pass breakups over the last three years. Gerry had some tackling issues, missing 25 between 2014 and 2015, but he cut that total down to only seven last season.

Texas A&M’s Justin Evans has had tackling woes of his own, as only two safeties had more than his 23 this season, but he still managed to grade at 90.2 in coverage, third-best in the nation. UConn’s Obi Melifonwu had a well-rounded season with a 76.6 grade against the run and an 81.7 grade in coverage, and he tied with Gerry for the lowest percentage of missed tackles among Senior Bowl safeties.
 
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
Messages
4,522
Reaction Score
57,718
Top defensive NFL draft prospects in 2017 Senior Bowl | PFF

View attachment 18966

With the nation’s No. 2 coverage grade at 90.6, Nebraska’s Nate Gerry does a nice job of diagnosing plays and quickly breaking on the ball, leading to an impressive 13 interceptions and 11 pass breakups over the last three years. Gerry had some tackling issues, missing 25 between 2014 and 2015, but he cut that total down to only seven last season.

Texas A&M’s Justin Evans has had tackling woes of his own, as only two safeties had more than his 23 this season, but he still managed to grade at 90.2 in coverage, third-best in the nation. UConn’s Obi Melifonwu had a well-rounded season with a 76.6 grade against the run and an 81.7 grade in coverage, and he tied with Gerry for the lowest percentage of missed tackles among Senior Bowl safeties.

The school represented not in P5
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
86,938
Reaction Score
323,095
Winners, losers from 2017 Senior Bowl weigh-ins

>>WINNERS - Obi Melifonwu | S | Connecticut
It’s not enough to just “look the part” in the NFL, but there’s certainly something to be said for having an ideal frame and body type. Melifonwu showed that off on Tuesday morning, weighing in at 6-4, 219 pounds with a rock-solid frame. His tape backs up his measurements, and a impressive performance this week could send him climbing up a deep safety class.<<


Interesting note from article since Crocker is on board:

>>Tanoh Kpassagnon | DL | Villanova
Another massive frame that showed off on Tuesday morning, Kpassagnon weighed in at 6-6, 280 pounds. He’s a versatile player who can line up in multiple spots no matter what scheme you’re running, and it’ll be interesting to see his coaching staff figure out his best fit this week. He certainly passed the eye test at the weigh-ins.<<

 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
86,938
Reaction Score
323,095
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
86,938
Reaction Score
323,095
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
86,938
Reaction Score
323,095
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000779227/article/senior-bowl-mike-mayocks-day-2-practice-stars

>>Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
Melifonwu, at 6-4 and 219 pounds, was all over the field on Wednesday. He's got outstanding range, making up so much distance in a hurry. Bob Diaco, the coach at UConn the past three years, said Melifonwu has more ability than any safety he's ever coached, and that includes Harrison Smith, the all-pro player for the Minnesota Vikings whom Diaco coached at Notre Dame. He's a matchup chess piece with movement skills. If Greg Olsen comes to town, you say, "That's your guy." The next week a wide receiver like Mike Evans comes to town, you say, "Go get him." I thought Melifonwu had an outstanding practice session on Wednesday.<<
 

Chin Diesel

Power of Love
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
32,411
Reaction Score
97,273
I'm bummed I'm out in California for work this week.

The practices at the Senior Bowl are open to the public for free and you can literally sit next to scouts and agents in the stands. You can walk down to the fence and be 30' from the drills.

If anyone ever has a chance to go, do it. It's a great experience to see all these college kids for a week.

Funny thing is come game time on Saturday all the scouts are gone. They watch match ups all week and have their info.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
20,513
Reaction Score
44,465
Too bad his athletic gifts weren't exploited more this past year, by moving him around and even having him blitz on occasion. He absolutely enveloped ball carriers on some plays with that wingspan. Especially against Navy.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
86,938
Reaction Score
323,095
Interesting note from article since Crocker is on board:

>>Tanoh Kpassagnon | DL | Villanova
Another massive frame that showed off on Tuesday morning, Kpassagnon weighed in at 6-6, 280 pounds. He’s a versatile player who can line up in multiple spots no matter what scheme you’re running, and it’ll be interesting to see his coaching staff figure out his best fit this week. He certainly passed the eye test at the weigh-ins.<<

More on Nova's Kpassagnon: Meet the next small-school sensation of the NFL draft
 

uconnphil2016

Head Rat
Joined
Jun 19, 2015
Messages
5,509
Reaction Score
18,502
I'm interested in what fans are thinking of Obi's ascent up the draft boards. He took a lot of flak here whether he deserved it or not. Do you all think Obi would be a good first round draft pick? Personally, I think you can't undersell his size and athleticism as well as his tackling ability, but I'd be a bit worried about his propensity to be a split second late over the top and get beat.
 

Online statistics

Members online
452
Guests online
3,607
Total visitors
4,059

Forum statistics

Threads
155,803
Messages
4,032,139
Members
9,865
Latest member
Sad Tiger


Top Bottom