With The First Pick
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Obi Melifonwu Another Perfect Pick for Oakland Raiders

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Michael Walker (3) is tackled by Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Michael Walker (3) is tackled by Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 4, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) intercepts a pass intended for Temple Owls wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) intercepts a pass intended for Temple Owls wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Stats and Analytics

Melifonwu made 118 tackles to show you just you effective he is playing the run in the box. The year before that, he made 88 tackles so this isn’t something new to him. He has such a big tackle total at S because he doesn’t miss and give up big plays often.

Melifonwu finished the 2016 season as the No. 17 S in tackling efficiency in the FBS. He also had a high run-stop percentage, ranked No. 9 in the FBS. The stats and analytics show that Melifonwu is as reliable a S as there is in this draft class against the run.

Against the pass, he is just as reliable as he is versatile in the secondary. He’s mainly asked to cover TEs and WRs man to man with his back to the opposing QBs. So the four INTs he got in 2016 were his highest total for a season while at UConn.

Melifonwu’s coverage is tight so when in man-to-man coverage, he doesn’t give up a lot. He gave up more than 60 receiving yards in a game just four times in his last two years at UConn. And the shutdown DB only gave up a total of three TDs in 2016.

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