_(cropped).jpg) Melifonwu with theUConn Huskies in 2014 | |||||
| Profile | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | (1994-04-05)April 5, 1994 (age 31) London, England | ||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
| Weight | 224 lb (102 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Grafton(Grafton, Massachusetts, U.S.) | ||||
| College | UConn (2012–2016) | ||||
| NFL draft | 2017: 2nd round, 56th overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||
| |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
Henry-William Obiajulu Melifonwu// ⓘ(born April 5, 1994) is anAmerican footballsafety. He playedcollege football atUConn. He was selected in the second round of the2017 NFL draft by theOakland Raiders.
Henry William Obiajulu Melifonwu was born in London on April 5, 1994. His parents are Igbo Nigerians who moved to England. At age 3, Melifonwu's family moved to the USA. His middle name, Obiajulu, means 'consoled heart'. He has one older brother Michael, a sister, and two younger brothers, Nonso andIfeatu.[1]
Melifonwu attendedGrafton High School inGrafton, Massachusetts. He playeddefensive back,quarterback andrunning back. As a senior, he rushed for 1,394 yards with 17touchdowns. Melifonwu committed to theUniversity of Connecticut to playcollege football.[2]
Melifonwuredshirted his first year at Connecticut in 2012. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, he started all 12 games and had 70tackles and twointerceptions.[3] As a redshirt sophomore in 2014, he started 11 games, recording 75 tackles. As a redshirt junior in 2015, he started 12 of 13 games and had 88 tackles and two interceptions.[1][4] As a senior in 2016, he started all 13 games and recorded 118 tackles and four interceptions.[5][6]
Melifonwu received an invitation to theSenior Bowl and made three combined tackles as a part of the North who lost 16–15 to the South.[7] He was able to raise his draft stock after performing well during the Senior Bowl practices.[8] Melifonwu attended theNFL Combine and completed the majority of combine and positional drills, but decided to skip thethree-cone drill andshort shuttle. He had impressive performances in thevertical jump,broad jump, and40-yard dash that further raised his draft stock. He also participated at Connecticut'sPro Day and completed the short shuttle, three-cone drill,and positional drills in front of 25 NFL scouts from 20 NFL teams. His numbers in the short shuttle and three-cone drill would've ranked second among all positions if he would've posted those times at the NFL Combine.[9] He had private workouts and visits with 11 NFL teams, including theSan Francisco 49ers,Cleveland Browns,Dallas Cowboys,Miami Dolphins,Philadelphia Eagles,Detroit Lions,Carolina Panthers,Washington Redskins,New Orleans Saints,Seattle Seahawks, andPittsburgh Steelers.[10] NFL draft experts and analysts projected him to be a second round pick. He was ranked the fourth best strong safety in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com, the fourth best safety by NFL analystsMike Mayock andBucky Brooks, was ranked the fifth best safety byESPN, and was ranked the sixth best safety bySports Illustrated.[11][12][13][14]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m) | 224 lb (102 kg) | 32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) | 9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.40 s | 1.51 s | 2.55 s | 4.30 s | 7.07 s | 44.0 in (1.12 m) | 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m) | 17 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/UConn'sPro Day[15][16][17][18] | ||||||||||||
TheOakland Raiders selected Melifonwu in the second round (56th overall) of the2017 NFL draft.[19] He was placed oninjured reserve on September 5, 2017, with eligibility to return in 2017.[20] He was activated from injured reserve to the active roster on November 4, 2017.[21] He was placed back on injured reserve on December 15, 2017, after having hip surgery.[22]
On August 23, 2018, Melifonwu waswaived/injured by the Raiders.[23] He was placed on injured reserve the next day after clearing waivers.[24] He was released on October 23, 2018.
On November 5, 2018, Melifonwu signed a two-year contract with theNew England Patriots.[25] Melifonwu appeared in two games for the Patriots, recording three tackles.[26] Melifonwu and the Patriots eventually reachedSuper Bowl LIII where they beat theLos Angeles Rams 13–3.[27]
On September 9, 2019, Melifonwu was waived by the Patriots and re-signed to thepractice squad.[28][29] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Patriots on January 6, 2020.[30]
On April 27, 2020, Melifonwu was released by the Patriots.[31]
On January 4, 2021, Melifonwu signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers.[32] He was waived on April 29, 2021.[33]
On July 29, 2021, the Eagles signed Melifonwu.[34] He was waived/injured on August 9, 2021, and placed on injured reserve.[35] He was released on September 14, 2021.[36]
Melifonwu was drafted by theTampa Bay Bandits of theUnited States Football League (USFL) in the 18th round of the2022 USFL draft.[37] He was transferred to the team's inactive roster on May 6, 2022, with a thigh injury.[38][39] He was moved back to the active roster on May 11.[40]
On February 4, 2023, Melifonwu was signed by theSt. Louis BattleHawks of theXFL.[41] He was released on February 9, 2023.[42]
On January 30, 2025, Melifonwu signed with theMemphis Showboats of theUnited Football League (UFL).[43]
His younger brother,Ifeatu Melifonwu, played college football atSyracuse and was selected by theDetroit Lions in the 3rd round of the2021 NFL draft.[44]
