Obi Melifonwu grew up a Patriots fan in Central Massachusetts. Now, he's on the team. ▲

FOXBORO – Athletes dream of performances like this. For Obi Melifonwu, the 2017 NFL Combine was a blessing. In other ways, it was a curse.

When the 6-foot-4, 224-pound safety from the University of Connecticut stepped to the broad jump, he raised his 32.5-inch arms high toward the ceiling before launching himself 11-feet, 9 inches through the air. He almost cleared the markings on the ground. His measurement was the second-best mark since 2003.

Then there was the vertical jump. Melifonwu raised his arms and bent his knees three times before flying 44 inches toward the sky. That number was the third best since 2006. If that wasn't enough, Melifonwu ran a 4.40 40-yard dash. That was the best among all safeties at the Combine.

The performance earned him plenty of praise. It also helped get him drafted 56th overall, in the second round, by the Oakland Raiders. Everyone knew Melifonwu was an athlete. A year later, now out of Oakland and in New England, people still do.

It's one thing this kid from Grafton, Mass., hopes to change.

"I also don't want to show measurables," Melifonwu said. "I want to show that I can run around and do the DB stuff as well. I don't want people to just look at my intangibles. I want them to actually look at my film because I am a good football player. I can play the game of football and play safety at a very high level."

Melifonwu's never backed down from a challenge. Throughout his life, he's leapt over adversity with ease. His release from the Raiders, a year after he was drafted, was shocking. It's one more example of this 24-year-old trying to prove others wrong – like he's done before.

"I don't think I have a chip on my shoulder necessarily because I know what I'm capable of and I know what I can do," Melifonwu said. "I've always had faith that I would make it regardless of the circumstances. I just know what I'm capable of and what I can do and when I get the opportunity, I'll be able to show it."

UConn offers chance

Don Brown heard the rumors.

The former UConn defensive coordinator was informed by Grafton High School football coaches Mike Ross and Chris McMahon that they had a hidden gem. While recruiting around Massachusetts, he started to hear the same from other coaches and athletic directors.

That brought Brown to the Grafton High gym, where Melifonwu was playing basketball. Before he knew it, the high school junior picked up a basketball and threw down an easy dunk. Brown was intrigued and invited Melifonwu to a football camp at UConn.

"Coach brought him over and introduced me to him and we invited him to our Combine camp," said Brown, now the defensive coordinator for Michigan. "I don't remember all the tests, but I know he ran sub-4.6 and vertical jumped 41 inches. So, that wasn't very hard at that point to offer him, but he had nothing. Nothing."

The son of Nigerian parents, Melifonwu was born in London and the family moved to Massachusetts when he was 3. As a teenager, he excelled at every sport he played – football, basketball and track. He played varsity football as a freshman. He lined up at quarterback, running back and receiver on offense. He played cornerback, safety and outside linebacker on defense. He'd even play special teams and block punts.

The only problem was convincing someone – anyone – to offer this student from a Central Massachusetts town a scholarship.

"He was kind of a hidden gem," said McMahon, Grafton's current head coach and Melifonwu's high school defensive coordinator. "I would tell coaches when they'd call and come in, we have something special – athletically off the charts and football-wise we have a kid that can play Division 1. There were schools that were interested, but it was a wait-and-see game."

Thanks to Melifonwu's performance at that camp, Connecticut became his only scholarship and a source of motivation.

"Ever since I was 9, I dreamed of playing football," Melifonwu said. "I was definitely frustrated I only got one offer. At the same time, I understood, all you need is one. All you need is one opportunity."

"It's a great story for me," Brown added. "The young man, I don't even know if he was rated, but in four years, he was the 52nd pick in the draft and had one scholarship offer. He didn't even have a scholarship offer to any of the CAA schools. Enough said with all that star [ratings]."

Early setback

Melifonwu needed football. He still does.

When he was 9 years old, he found himself getting "in a lot of fights." It was football that helped Melifonwu channel his anger and energy. It became apparent early and often, he had a gift. That's when the dream started.

When he went to college, he did so with a chip on his shoulder due to his one scholarship offer. He parlayed his new anger into an outstanding career with the Huskies. Melifonwu finished his collegiate career with 349 tackles, eight interceptions and 16 passes defended.

No one was surprised when the Raiders selected him in the second round. How his time ended in Oakland was, however, a shock. As a rookie, Melifonwu played in five games due to two stints on the injured reserve. They released him on Oct. 23.

"In college, he started 47 of 48 games," said Melifonwu's brother, Ifeatu, who plays at Syracuse. "He was never really injured, only missed one game. So, him being out basically the whole season last year was definitely a lot of adversity. I think that motivated him now to show what he can actually do."

Melifonwu grew up playing football in the streets of Framingham, Mass., rooting for the Patriots. Ifeatu, who's five years younger, still remembers his older brother saying he wanted to play in the NFL when he was a child.

To experience success on every level is one thing. To experience failure after achieving your dream of being drafted is another. It's this moment Melifonwu says he became stronger.

"I think it makes me appreciate the game more," Melifonwu added. "It was kind of humbling and not to take anything for granted. Every day I step in here trying to learn something or try to soak up, be a sponge. Definitely not to take anything for granted. You can be here and be gone the next."

"He didn't really get to show what he could do with the Raiders," Ifeatu Melifonwu added. "His time with the Raiders got cut short because of injuries. He hasn't even scratched the surface and shown what he can do. I think he's motivated to do that with a new team."

Perfect spot

Melifonwu's return to New England means everything.

After signing a two-year deal with the Patriots on Nov. 5, the safety has appeared in two games this season with his hometown team. His family is a 40-minute drive from Gillette Stadium. After being released by the Raiders, Melifonwu's more than appreciative to be inside this building.

"It was definitely rough, but I'm a man of faith and I understand that you go through things to get through and come up on the other side," Melifonwu said. "I feel like I'm at that point now. I'm in a good position. I'm in a good place with one of the greatest coaches of all time."

Melifonwu is behind veterans Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon on the depth chart, but his experience in that meeting room is priceless. It's hard for any new player to come to the Patriots mid-season and catch up, but Melifonwu says he stays true to Bill Belichick's teachings and focuses whatever role the coach has for him that week.

"I've been a Patriots fan my whole life. To be a part of the team I dreamed of playing for, to be a part of this coaching staff, it's surreal, honestly," Melifonwu said. "Now that I'm in it, it's like anything other opportunity to take full advantage of what I have here."

Those who know Melifonwu all think the Patriots is the perfecting landing spot. The local kid is back home and ready to prove he belongs.

"He can do all the stuff," Brown said. "He's got great [change of direction]. He can leap and go up and get the ball. He's got tremendous ball skills. And he can straight-line run. He's got all those qualities that you look for. Obviously, he's getting the best coach there is in the NFL. That's certainly going to take him far. ...

"You know what, he's probably in a perfect situation."