DKphin
Club Member
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...ns-melifonwu-ohios-basham-making-top-50-push/Lost a bit in the hype over this year's flashy pass-catchers, however, has been the stellar play of Ohio defensive end Tarell Basham and Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu - a pair of defenders whose consistently superior play this week could have them ticketed for a top-50 selection in the 2017 draft.
As the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, the 6-foot-3 5/8, 259-pound Basham entered the week already well known in the scouting community. Scouts were eager to see how well he'd fare against the top competition in Mobile. The answer has been as emphatic as it has been impressive, as Basham has been virtually unblockable, winning with his initial quickness, bend, strong hands and a variety of pass rush moves, including a wicked spin.
Despite often lining up nearly 20 yards further downfield, Melifonwu has been every bit as impactful, showing impressive fluidity and range given his chiseled 6-foot-4, 219-pound frame. Melifonwu did not enter the week with quite as much buzz as Basham but certainly was a star for the Huskies, leading the team in both tackles (118) and interceptions (four), earning first-team All-American Conference honors.
Melifonwu (left) impressed during Thursday's practice. USATSI The 2017 draft is loaded with edge rushers and safeties with some of the most exciting of this year's underclassmen playing these positions. That fact could keep Basham and Melifonwu from cracking the first round.
After a three full days of practice, however, it is clear that Basham and Melifonwu are among the handful of top prospects at the 2017 Senior Bowl.
[h=3]More notes from Thursday's North, South practices[/h]
- Given the relative value of their positions in today's pass-happy NFL, Basham and Melifonwu earned top billing, but another unheralded player generating plenty of buzz this week is Charlotte defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. Scouts do not often rave over the build of 300-pound-plus defensive linemen but Ogunjobi is perfectly suited for run-stuffing duties with his squatty 6-foot-2 1/2, 304-pound frame, which includes a fire hydrant-like lower half. As his frame suggests, Ogunjobi has held up well against the scrimmage in the running game, but he also has shown an explosive burst to penetrate, wreaking havoc at times during Thursday's North practice. A year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers found a starter in former South Carolina State and Senior Bowl Javon Hargrave. Ogunjobi -- a two-time All-Conference USA pick who left as the 49ers' all-time leader in tackles (217), tackles for loss (TFL) (49), sacks (13) and QB hurries (33) -- could be on the verge of a similar rise.
- Texas A&M wide receiver Josh Reynolds continued his impressive week Thursday, snaring several difficult catches to earn draw oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Like a lot of receivers with his slim 6-foot-3, 187-pound frame, Reynolds has an effortless, gliding speed that makes him a legitimate deep threat and a threat on fades when in the red zone. Where he has helped his cause this week, however, is by showing impressive suddenness and balance in underneath routes, generating consistent separation against much smaller cornerbacks, exploding out of his breaks and driving back towards the passer. Best of all, for a receiver with only "average" arm length (31 1/2-inch) and hand size (8 7/8-inch) given his size, Reynolds shows the ability to extend outside of his frame and pluck passes, including a touchdown against tight coverage Thursday. Reynolds is not particularly physical -- losing more contested passes than one might think given his frame -- but he projects nicely as an outside receiver in a vertical offense such as the one run in Pittsburgh and Arizona, drawing a comparison to Martavis Bryant from one long-time scout.
- Temple's Haasan Reddick has generated a great deal of buzz with his successful transition from edge rusher to inside linebacker this week, but scouts are also excited about the play of cornerback-turned-safety Cam Sutton. The former All-SEC pick has played both positions this week for the South team, showing instincts, range and hand-eye coordination to rip at the ball as it arrives. Sutton was particularly early on in Thursday's practice, breaking up three passes over the first of a few one-on-one and skeleton drills, alternating between the two positions. At just 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, Sutton would seem better suited to remaining at cornerback in the NFL, but his willingness to try a different position this late in the process speaks to his selflessness and preparation.
- Scouts like to say that players can only help their draft stock in all-star games, but one player who has been unable to generate momentum for himself this week thus far has been LSU's Travin Dural, who has struggled with drops. Given the inconsistent quarterback play at LSU, scouts were willing to give the well-built 6-foot-1, 206-pound Dural a "pass" for catching just 28 passes for 280 yards and a single touchdown in 2016. With every drop this week, however, Dural looks more and more responsible for his production slipping the past two seasons after a breakout sophomore campaign in which he caught a career-high 37 passes for 758 yards and seven scores. The Senior Bowl is officially sponsored by Reese's (with a three-year extension with the sponsor being agreed to just today, according to a source) but, unfortunately, Dural has shown more Butterfingers than anything thus far.
I really like Melifonwu. I have watched a couple of his game film and I think he has a good shot at making it in the league.
[video=youtube;0x3Nb2UXqx8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x3Nb2UXqx8[/video]