Obi Melifonwu facts for kids
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Melifonwu with the UConn Huskies in 2014
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| No. 20 – Memphis Showboats | |||
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| Position: | Safety | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | April 5, 1994 London, England |
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| 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 / Round: 2 / Pick: 56 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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Henry-William Obiajulu Melifonwu (born April 5, 1994) is an American football player. He plays as a safety for the Memphis Showboats in the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at UConn. The Oakland Raiders picked him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft.
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Early Life and High School Football
Henry William Obiajulu Melifonwu was born in London, England, on April 5, 1994. His parents are from Nigeria and moved to England. When Obi was three years old, his family moved to the USA. His middle name, Obiajulu, means 'consoled heart'. He has an older brother, Michael, a sister, and two younger brothers, Nonso and Ifeatu.
Melifonwu went to Grafton High School in Grafton, Massachusetts. He played several positions in football, including defensive back, quarterback, and running back. In his senior year, he ran for 1,394 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. After high school, Melifonwu decided to play college football at the University of Connecticut.
College Football Career
Melifonwu started his college career at Connecticut in 2012. He took a "redshirt" year, which means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain an extra year of eligibility.
Playing for UConn
In 2013, as a redshirt freshman, he played in all 12 games. He made 70 tackles and caught two interceptions. The next year, in 2014, he started 11 games and had 75 tackles.
As a redshirt junior in 2015, he played in 12 of 13 games. He recorded 88 tackles and two interceptions. In his senior year in 2016, he started all 13 games. He had an impressive season with 118 tackles and four interceptions.
Professional Football Journey
Getting Ready for the NFL Draft
After college, Melifonwu was invited to the Senior Bowl, a game where top college players show their skills. He performed well during practices, which helped teams notice him. He also attended the NFL Combine, where players do various physical tests.
Melifonwu showed off his amazing athletic abilities. He had great results in the vertical jump, broad jump, and 40-yard dash. Many NFL experts thought he would be picked in the second round of the draft.
Playing in the NFL
The Oakland Raiders chose Melifonwu in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the 56th player picked overall. Early in his time with the Raiders, he dealt with injuries. He was placed on injured reserve in September 2017 but returned to play later that year. He had hip surgery in December 2017.
In August 2018, the Raiders released him.
Time with the New England Patriots
In November 2018, Melifonwu signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots. He played in two games for the Patriots and made three tackles. The Patriots made it to Super Bowl LIII that season and won against the Los Angeles Rams with a score of 13–3.
He was released by the Patriots in April 2020.
Other Teams and Leagues
After the Patriots, Melifonwu signed with the San Francisco 49ers in January 2021 but was released a few months later. He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles in July 2021. He was later placed on injured reserve.
In 2022, Melifonwu was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL. He played for them during the season. In 2023, he briefly signed with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL.
As of January 30, 2025, Melifonwu signed with the Memphis Showboats in the United Football League (UFL).
Family Life
Obi Melifonwu's younger brother, Ifeatu Melifonwu, also plays professional football. Ifeatu played college football at Syracuse. The Detroit Lions picked him in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.
