FOXBOROUGH — Obi Melifonwu decided it was his dream to play in the NFL 15 years ago, when he was 9. He became an avid Patriots fan, idolizing those who molded the early dynastic years in Foxborough. Melifonwu, who leaned toward the defensive side of the ball, studied the play of Lawyer Milloy and then Rodney Harrison like a hawk.
Less than seven years ago at the age of 17, Melifonwu sat in the library at Grafton High School and became the first player in program history to be accepted by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team when he signed with the University of Connecticut.