DB Target Ifeatu Melifonwu Update

Submitted by umhero on

A couple days ago I did some sleuthing and posted about a new DB target on Michigan's radar. His name is Ifeatu Melifonwu, and he's a 2 star athlete currently committed to Syracuse. Here's a link to the post:

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/possible-new-db-target

Twitter provided some updates tonight. First, Coach Harbaugh went to his basketball game tonight. Here's the tweet showing their meeting after the game:

Ifeatu Melifonwu

 

Mark Snyder from the Free Press is reporting that he will visit:

Report: Mass. safety (Syracuse commit) to visit Michigan after Jim Harbaugh attends his basketball game

The article has a video of him in his basketball game with a steal and a dunk along with this from his football coach:

"Grafton coach Chris McMahon told the paper that Melifonwu can play either spot in the secondary or a skill position on offense."

Also, Tom VanHaaren reported that Don Brown already has a connection since he recruited his brother Obi to UConn.

BTW - Obi is an NFL Draft prospect this year at the same position his brother is being recruited for. An NFL executive had this to say about him when asked by NFL.com to name a prospect with the most upside in the draft:

UConn safety Obi Melifonwu
"The UConn safety is really intriguing. He's freaky athletic and he's going to put up big-time testing numbers. He'll run low 4.4s (in the 40-yard dash) and jump over 40 inches. He can play in the slot as well. Huge upside." Link
 
Obi was a 2 star prospect too until he committed to UConn when he got bumped to a low 3 star and the 1355 ranked player. It might be nice to have another under the radar guy like Keith Washington that we can root for.

Elmer

January 22nd, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^

He does look fairly solid for a 6'3 high school senior.

After watching his HUDL video, NO WAY is this kid a 2 star recruit.  I don't care about the competition, just watch him move and react.  If he was at a big time high school, he would be at least 3* and maybe a 4* recruit.

The fact that his brother (who has a similar build) will likely get drafted and play in the NFL next season just adds to the case that he's way underrated.

Hope they land him next weekend.

 

 

LSAClassOf2000

January 22nd, 2017 at 7:54 AM ^

I've been curious about that as well, the grading systems, and it would interesting to compare it across a few teams just to get a taste for differences in style and preference. 

As for less-heralded recruits when it comes to site rankings, I trust Harbaugh and the staff to know what they are looking at and estimate what they could do to develop a kid. Hopefully, no one is afraid of what amounts to a weird recruiting version of "Moneyball" once in a while. 

Rabbit21

January 22nd, 2017 at 8:50 AM ^

I think there's a difference between a targeted prospect with athleticism and good bloodlines at an area of need and the entire class filling up with camp offerees as was happening during the first satellite camp tours




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CalifExile

January 22nd, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^

As sophisticated consumers of recruiting information, we are aware that classes are ranked according to the top 20 players in the class. With 32 projected commitments this individual won't lower our ranking.

trustBlue

January 22nd, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^

I think when a player like this ends up with 2* it simply means that the recruiting sites havent gotten around to actually evaluating the kid.

Its easy to envision how a kid that plays for a school that does not have a history of producing D1 talent, agaisnt mediocre competition and who does not attend any of the national camps simply gets overlooked regardless of his actual talent level.

Its really a different story than a player who has gotten heavily evaluated and winds up rated 2 or low 3 stars because of specific flaws in his game.

 

victors2000

January 22nd, 2017 at 6:15 AM ^

Nice. He looks like the kind of guy who was a threat to go all the way on every play. Again, with the caveat that those Northeastern players are probably not playing against the best talent...

The Fan in Fargo

January 22nd, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^

I'm so sick of you guys who think they know what they are talking about when it comes to a kids talent. The people he plays against has nothing to do with the fact that he can dunk and has a good 40 time. Look at it like this stud man. Would Jim and Don even be looking at this kid if that mattered? NO!! Don't forget it either.

GhostofJermain…

January 22nd, 2017 at 8:07 AM ^

All the talk about how Nico is still coming, and Martin 2.  How we will just convert Hawkins to db..   I think the Tea Leaves are clear.  Nico not coming, Martin (when he announces) and Hawkins staying at wr, so we therefore need another db.  They pushed for Hicks, and Sebestain albeit for 2 mins.  Have long said to have wanted 1 more db in this class. The part that I like about this kid and our recruitment for him is he's not one of these top 100 kids that we have to fight multiple schools on.  I'm sure if offered he commits on the spot.  Having more freakish athletes on the field is always a good problem to have.  You see this a lot with OSU, Bama, and Clemson.  (sorry but it's true)

Melifonwu

Solomon

Gay

Martin

Becton

 

Look forward to seeing all you fine young gentelmen at Signing with the Stars. Go Blue

ColeIsCorky

January 22nd, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^

Don't count out a flip of Isaiah Wilson. They're pushing for him hard. If he doesn't flip, however, the aftermath may be nearly as enjoyable to follow. I'd still rather get Wilson than watch Georgia get burned at the stake though. Maybe both can still happen.

ColeIsCorky

January 22nd, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^

Maybe I'm listening to umbig11 too much, but it sounds like Georgia could have reached to Ole Miss level improprieties, and someone may be on board to drop the bombshell on them if said improprieties end up working out for them. Sounded like there was a mole or something. He's made many cryptic comments about Michigan's potential reactions to what's going on down there.

Don

January 22nd, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^

I have no doubt that a wide number of programs across the country, especially those in the south, have been engaging in blatantly illegal recruiting practices for decades. To believe otherwise requires Happy Valley levels of gullible denial.



However, the chances that anybody—connected to Michigan or not—is going to drop a meangingful bomb on Georgia or Ole Miss are extremely slim. Simply leveling accusations will have little practical lasting value. The NCAA has proven beyond the shadow of doubt that it’s fundamentally disinterested in pursuing financial and academic wrongdoing by major programs, and it’s clear to the entirety of the college athletic world that all a school has to do to escape damaging sanctions is to refuse to cooperate and not admit to any major infractions. Certainly you're never going to shame a southern program into playing by the rules; to them, if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.



The other problem in dropping an effective bomb is that doing so requires cooperation and evidence provided by those who’ve been offered and/or received impermissible inducements. There’s little or no benefit in doing so—these aren’t criminal justice proceedings where cooperation and testimony can result in reduced charges being filed—and the families of all recruits understand that testifying or giving evidence against a program would immediately subject them to unbelievable amounts of abuse in social media, up to and including death threats. Why would any recruit willingly put himself and his family in that situation, especially since they're not legally compelled to say squat to anybody?



The only exception would be if there were specifically criminal actions taking place on the part of the bagmen or recruits or university employees. What brought down Michigan’s basketball program wasn't merely the fact that Ed Martin was providing money to Michigan players—it was the fact that Martin was being investigated by the Feds for running an illegal gambling operation in Ford plants and laundering his proceeds by giving the money to young Detroit-area athletes. That criminal investigation gave the authorities the ability to subpeona Michigan players and compel their testimony, which is something the NCAA cannot do.

I've been reading assertions that the NCAA will be dropping the bomb on Ole Miss for quite a while now, but I'll believe it when it happens.

Mr Miggle

January 22nd, 2017 at 1:41 PM ^

Miami got away because NCAA investigators got overzealous and unprofessional. They tainted much of the evidence against Miami. A bad outcome, but not from looking the other way. They've ratcheted up the charges against UNC. They may have been willing to let them off at first, but it's looking quite the opposite now. If I were a UNC fan, I'd be plenty worried.

The example of Ole Miss from above is another I wouldn't yet draw conclusions from. A decision is expected in a couple of months. 

 

Mr Miggle

January 22nd, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^

What is clear is that the makeup of the class is going to be different than was expected a couple of months ago. Where at one point it was Collins or Martin, now it could be both. Not long ago we were looking at 3-4 RBs in this class. Now we are looking at 2, with an outside chance of 1. That frees up room for other skill position players. Let's not forget that the charges against Perry may be the impetus for renewing the pursuit of Martin. Or that Hamilton may be pushing for an extra weapon that Fisch wasn't.

None of us knows enough to confidently read the situation. My simple take is that Martin is too good to pass up. We have room, so take him and sort out the roster balance later. Too many good WRs is not a problem. Some players that don't see the field will get moved or leave.

If Ifeatu's trip takes place, that will show he's a take. In the meantime, he's an option depending on how other recruiting battles shake out. Showing him interest does equal knowing there will be room. I agree that he is a player I'd take a flyer on. There's a lot of size and athleticism for the coaches to work with. Even if he doesn't reach his ceiling, I could see him being valuable on special teams.

Prince Lover

January 22nd, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^

So there is at least another school to fght for him.
And don't underestimate the power of the first love. Some recruits have loyalty and will keep their commitments because the first offer they get is the most meaningful.

I'm just saying, of course UM seems like a better school to play for, but we are a little biased....