Possible New DB Target

Submitted by umhero on

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:

Ifeatu Melifonwu

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:

Positions: CB, WR
Height & Weight: 6'3" 190lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.58
Shuttle: 4.43
Vertical: 34.9
Bench: 265
Squat(LBS): 365
 
He's a three sport athlete playing lacrosse and basketball after football. They list him as a CB/WR but his highlights show him doing everything including throw the ball. He was named First Team ALL-USA Massachusetts Football as a RB. His team finished 13-1 and he was clearly the star.
 
Here are his highlights from both junior and senior year (evidently he changed jersey numbers from 2 to 1 between the seasons):
 
 
The highlights aren't the best quality and neither is his competition but he does standout. He may be a diamond in the rough. If this recruitment moves beyond the speculation stage he might be fun to root for.
 
 

Ifeatu Melifonwu

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2017 football recruiting
Ifeatu Melifonwu

TruBluMich

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.

Joined: 08/03/2011

MGoPoints: 22024

Go Buckeyes

January 19th, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^

hy·per·bo·le
hīˈpərbəlē/
noun
  1. exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
    synonyms: exaggeration, overstatement, magnification, embroidery, embellishment, excess, overkill, rhetoric; More

 

Joined: 09/06/2016

MGoPoints: -85

bacon

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.  

Joined: 01/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18646

alum96

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. 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82537

Guy Fawkes

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.

Joined: 09/28/2016

MGoPoints: 1716

AA Forever

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.

Joined: 08/14/2016

MGoPoints: 765

ldevon1

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. 

Joined: 09/09/2015

MGoPoints: 36887

Mr Miggle

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. 

 

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47691

jdemille9

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.

Joined: 01/29/2011

MGoPoints: 8521

Don

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.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148386

GhostofJermain…

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?

Joined: 07/20/2015

MGoPoints: 7772

Magnus

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.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166009