Possible New DB Target
Scout posted a player's picture on Twitter with the headline "new 2017 defensive back target for #Michigan." So while I don't have Scout I decided to do a little sleuthing. Here's the tweet:
Here's what I have learned. His name is Ifeatu Melifonwu and he's a lightly scouted athlete from Grafton, MA currently commited to Syracuse. His brother Obi was a star safety at UConn where he led the team in tackles last year as a senior.
Ifeatu was recruited as a safety at Syracuse. I can't find any mentions of him participating in any camps but the image above suggests he did. Here are the vitals listed on Hudl:
Ifeatu Melifonwu
January 19th, 2017 at 4:51 AM ^
Was like watching Denard play but slower. Every play was QB draw, the two defensive plays seemed average. But you can't teach speed or height. With the limited non-QB draw plays hard to really tell.
January 19th, 2017 at 6:30 AM ^
That was like Fred Jackson, but not as effusive.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
Is there such a thing as "just like Denard, but faster?"
I don't think so. EVERYone compared to him is slower.
January 19th, 2017 at 2:02 PM ^
Bolt?
January 19th, 2017 at 4:57 AM ^
Looks like he is playing against Pee Wee Football teams... but he is very athletic nonetheless.
In JH we Trust!
January 19th, 2017 at 5:49 AM ^
I doubt it but maybe they see a Najee just 30 pounds lighter.
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January 19th, 2017 at 5:54 AM ^
Good film. First though was LaVeon Bell
Running style. Standing up picking his holes. I think he's being looked at as a CB tho
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January 19th, 2017 at 6:12 AM ^
I was thinking safety
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January 19th, 2017 at 6:15 AM ^
Yeah. Makes more sense.
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January 19th, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^
-
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
synonyms: exaggeration, overstatement, magnification, embroidery, embellishment, excess, overkill, rhetoric; More
January 19th, 2017 at 6:22 AM ^
Don Brown loves tall guys in the secondary
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January 19th, 2017 at 6:22 AM ^
6' 3" and runs a 4.58 40. That's pretty good speed for someone of that size if he's a defensive back. Benjamin St-Juste has the same height and 40 according to 247.
January 19th, 2017 at 6:46 AM ^
BSJ also ran a sub-4 second shuttle, I believe. That's where that dude makes his money.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
Phrasing.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:06 AM ^
- /cursory mention of Channing Stribling
- /cursory mention of Josh Metellus
- /cursory ignoring that every 2 star in America is not one of the 2 above but Harbaugh
- /cursory mention of starz don't matter cuz Harbaugh then immediately run over to another thread to mention OSU's latest 5 star secondary 'croot
- /cursory noting that even Rutgers didn't offer
- /cursory mention of any Glasgow brother
- /cursory mention of snake oil and Syracuse
- /cursory mention of tall
- /cursory mention of overlooked
- /cursory mention of Don Brown knows the East Coast
- /cursory mention of consolation choice after Brandon Sebastian
- /cusory mention of no we want him MOAR than Brandon Sebastian
- /cursory Fred Jackson jokes
- /cursory appearance of MGoBlogger who looks at any film of a UM offer and sees wonder and excitement and potential intertwined with unicorns and rainbows.
Let me know if I got everything covered.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:39 AM ^
/cursory neg because you didn't use "crootin'"
January 19th, 2017 at 8:49 AM ^
No need to read the rest of the trend.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:25 AM ^
This is a family friendly website!!
January 19th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
he feels welcome under the Michigan magnifying glass by all of us tweeting at him!
January 19th, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
Nope. You missed I am a dolt and thought Don Brown was a mediocre hire.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:24 AM ^
Athletic. Make an offer !
January 19th, 2017 at 7:33 AM ^
I guess I didn't realize they wanted a DB so badly. I don't think they're that bad off with what they have especially if they do move Hawkins to S. I'd hate to fill a spot just because. 2018 recruiting will be just as important and spot seem limited.
January 19th, 2017 at 8:01 AM ^
Why not use them. Especially if he has potential. Maybe the thought process is, they want Hawkins at receiver, and this might allow them to do that.
January 19th, 2017 at 8:12 AM ^
we have Long, Hill, Thomas, St. Juste, Watson and Washington, and maybe Clark if they can finagle a 6th year for him. We're certainly thin on experience, especially without Clark, but it's hard to see how this guy provides any real short-term improvement to that situation.
We should be hesitant about taking a low level recruit just because we plays a position where would like to have more help. If he's never good enough to see the field against real competition, it doesn't really matter what position he's listed at. Better to bank the scholarship for next year, or use it this year for someone of higher quality. If we're a little weak at CB, so be it. We'll just have to try to improve in other areas.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
The kid isn't worthy of an offer? It's not like the staff just assembled, and needs bodies. Are you going by stars? Ojemudia (the corner for Iowa) has the same measurables and was a 3 star, and he looked pretty good covering our receivers in the Iowa game.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:25 AM ^
competition"
Yeah, I don't want players like that either. I especially think our coaches also agree with that. But not every spot on the roster is going to be filled by players that can step in and contribute immediately. There's room for some players that aren't ready but who have a lot of potential.
Banking scholarships is a losing strategy in this era of high roster turnover. This sounds like another Don Brown recruit. I know, trust the coaches, blah, blah, blah. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt on finding under recruited defenders from this underscouted area. Honestly, if we can't trust him on that, when can we ever give our coaches the benefit of the doubt? The potential should be there; size, speed, and a brother that developed into a good college player. The experience is lacking.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:29 AM ^
he plays in an area not highly recruited or known, we will have scholarships available, he's a great, tall athlete with a high ceiling who provides some options in the long term.
I'll trust the coaches here.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
Banking scholarships isn't usually wise. It comes back to bite you later on. And there are very few kids who come in and are instant impact/short-term help. If the coaches think it's worth kicking the tires to add depth so be it.
January 19th, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
Totally agree. Look at this pathetic NFL roster listing all their players from nothing programs. It goes without saying that you're not drafting 4- and 5-star players out of Duke, CSU, Sacrameno State, La Tech, or Georgia Southern.
Duke (3)
Colorado State (3)
Sacramento State (2)
Syracuse
La Tech
Tulane (2)
Iowa (4)
Memphis (1)
GA Southern
Nevada (2)
Kansas (2)
San Diego St
Shepherd
Idaho
Maryland
Indiana
Temple
Utah St
Cincy (2)
Tennessee St
Eastern Washington
Oregon St
Arizona
Holy Cross
Youngstown St
SMU
Northwestern
Portland St
Rice
Sioux Falls
Troy
South Florida
Wyoming
How the Broncos managed to win the Super Bowl with this collection of 2- and 3-star losers is mind-boggling.
January 19th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
Need to find a way to judge/grade a kid if he blew up in High school phyiscally or he is going to blow up in College.
I think Harbaugh is open to the right mix of elite guys and guys with high ceilings in his eyes.
January 19th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
I'll do you the courtesy of not debunking the "stars don't matter..look at Mike Hart!" Argument for the thousandth time.
January 19th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
We're not turning away a top 100 recruit to take this guy, if we do take him. Not all lower rated recruits are similar or have the same chances of outperforming their ratings. Identifying them is part of coaches' jobs.
January 19th, 2017 at 8:13 AM ^
Badly? 6 foot 3 DBs in Brown's system is highly attractive. I bet Detective Brown is familiar with this kid. Stribling 2.0.
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January 19th, 2017 at 8:16 AM ^
I think people are sleeping on Hawkins at WR. He could be a very good one at that. It sucks that we struck out with two athletes that had a ton of potential to be great at safety with both Brian Cole and Ahmir Mitchell.
January 19th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
His film is pretty impressive.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:41 AM ^
until NSD. Can't get here soon enough for me.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^
"Shopping days" indeed if you are Georgia.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:43 AM ^
His high school colors are green and white.
Do not want.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:44 AM ^
Case Tech is too.
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January 19th, 2017 at 8:27 AM ^
That's why I want Michigan to eschew Cass Tech and load up on kids from Dearborn Fordson.
January 19th, 2017 at 7:51 AM ^
Is Herbert still expected to flip with Florida's O-line coach taking the same position at Louisville?
January 19th, 2017 at 7:55 AM ^
He's expected to flip somewhere, even if it's not Florida. Maybe Auburn, maybe Miami, etc.
January 19th, 2017 at 8:03 AM ^
They are still in heavy contact with him and his teamate. Also I keep hearing there is more attrition coming, I know you are all over this sort of stuff so I had a question. With the new semester having already started, and NSD less than 2 weeks away. If any attrition does occur will it be soon, or before nsd most likely? Seems like you would want to do the right thing and give the kids the best opportunity to move on successfully. No?
January 19th, 2017 at 8:10 AM ^
kids not coming back in the fall. Maybe a couple more kids are graduating and have some classes to complete. It's 85 by fall, if I'm not mistaken.
January 19th, 2017 at 8:28 AM ^
This is indeed more attrition coming, but it probably won't be this semester, AFAIK. There are some kids who are going to get their degree and then move on, or at least take the spring/summer to decide where to go.
January 19th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
Magnus, you see anyone from the 2015 (besides Kinnel and Wheatley) taking a major step this year? Can Washington push for a corner spot? Jones and Johnson become a Taco like player? Oline help?
January 19th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
Other than Kinnel and Wheatley, the guy I would watch for first is Nolan Ulizio. I've heard good things about him. He might be the front-runner to start at one of the tackle spots. Also, Reuben Jones was supposedly impressive in practice, so he might be another one to watch. Otherwise, it's a pretty unimpressive class, though I do think Runyan could help us down the road.