Syracuse Football Recruiting: DB Ifeatu Melifonwu Verbals to Orange|Syracuse Hot Topics|Team BattleGround|College BattleGround

The Syracuse Orange have had a run on 2017 wide receivers in recent days. Only natural that they even things out with a commitment on the other side of the ball.

Grafton Memorial athlete Ifeatu Melifonwu gave his verbal to Syracuse late Saturday night, making him the fifth Class of 2017 commitment in the last six days.

BREAKING: Syracuse lands commitment from Grafton (MA) DB Ifeatu Melifonwu @Ifeatu_Mel https://t.co/rZPXhdyVyz pic.twitter.com/afa9rmfsDp

— Mike McAllister (@McAllisterScout) July 3, 2016

I am committed to Syracuse University pic.twitter.com/AUmmS4wXsP

— Ifeatu 〽️elifonwu (@Ifeatu_Mel) July 3, 2016

Melifonwu spoke to CuseNation about his decision.

“Just a long talk with my family,” Melifonwu said. “My brother goes to UConn and I kind of wanted to carve my own path at Syracuse.”

“I loved the campus, the athletic facilities and the coaching staff,” Melifonwu said. “My relationship with the coaches was really important because I felt like I could be honest with them.”

The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is technically listed as an ATH and played WR in high school but he’s come to SU to play either cornerback or free safety. He chose SU over offers from Boston College and UConn and also had interest from Northwestern.

His brother is Obi Melifonwu, a redshirt senior safety with the Connecuticut Huskies.

He’s the first DB in the Class of 2017 and yet another speedster in a class full of them.