Henry Melton

While attending Grapevine High School Melton was a second-team "All-USA" selection by USA Today; he gained over 800 yards and

scored eight touchdowns as a senior.{{cite news|url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/doc_lib/2005_ULL_notes.pdf |title=Texas Game Notes – Louisiana Lafayette |access-date=March 14, 2007 |publisher=MackBrownTexasFootball |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216174842/http://mackbrown-texasfootball.com/doc_lib/2005_ULL_notes.pdf |archive-date=February 16, 2006 }} He earned All-District (5-5A) honors as a junior while rushing for over 800 yards and 12 TDs and averaged 6.2 yards per carry in 2003. He also gained over 800 yards as a sophomore. He also lettered in baseball and track.

Melton's first appearance as a Longhorn was on September 3, 2005, against the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football.{{cite news | title=Charles sets Longhorn mark while taking over for injured Selvin Young; 270-pound Melton flashes speed on scoring run | work=Austin American-Statesman | date=September 4, 2005 | author=Golden, Cedric }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/000_stats/05/game01.htm |title=Louisiana-Lafayette vs Texas (Sept 03, 2005) |work=MackBrownTexasFootball |access-date=March 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060706182206/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/000_stats/05/game01.htm |archive-date=July 6, 2006 }} Melton was a backup running back in his first two seasons, according to Mike Lampe. He carried 132 times for 625 yards (4.7-yard average) and 16 touchdowns. In 2007, Melton switched to defensive tackle.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/j-j-watt-jared-allen-jake-long-among-nfl-s-best-linemen-0ap1000000084816|title=J.J. Watt, Jared Allen, Jake Long among NFL's best linemen|work=National Football League|date=October 24, 2012|access-date=October 24, 2012}}

Over the summer prior to the 2007 Longhorn football season, Melton and teammate Sergio Kindle were arrested in separate incidents on charges of driving while intoxicated.{{cite news|url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/08/03/Sports/Law-Seeks.Out.Texas.Football.Again-2929321.shtml |title=Law seeks out Texas football, again |work=The Daily Texan |author=Jankowski, Philip |date=August 3, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184751/http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/08/03/Sports/Law-Seeks.Out.Texas.Football.Again-2929321.shtml |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}{{cite news | url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5024080.html | work=Houston Chronicle | title=UT tackle turns self in on aggravated robbery charge | author=Duarte, Joseph | date=August 3, 2007 | access-date=August 3, 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/jones_suspended_indefinitely.html |title=Jones suspended indefinitely |work=Austin American-Statesman |author=Halliburton, Suzanne |date=August 3, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122000/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2007/08/03/jones_suspended_indefinitely.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }} Both players were suspended from the team for the first three games of the season. They were required to do community service and missed the first two days of practice in order to visit with a woman whose son was crippled by a drunk driver.{{cite news | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2962285 | title=Melton, Kindle to miss first three games of season for DWI charges | agency=Associated Press | date=August 5, 2007 | access-date=August 6, 2007}}

Melton became a starter in his senior season and had 29 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. As a backup defensive end as a junior, he made 11 tackles with one sack.

Melton measured {{cvt|6|ft|3+1/8|in|cm}} tall and {{cvt|269|lb}} and ran a 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds at the University of Texas Pro Day. He bench pressed {{convert|225|lb}} 23 times, had a vertical leap of {{cvt|34+1/2|in|cm}}, and a broad jump of {{cvt|10|ft|1|in|cm}}.

He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2009 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} On May 29, 2009, Melton agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Bears.(May 29, 2009)[http://mystateline.com/content/fulltext/?cid=70722 Bears sign Melton]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} My Stateline.com. Retrieved May 29, 2009. During a preseason game, he returned a kickoff for 20 yards.{{cite news|last=Koster |first=Kyle |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sportsprose/2009/08/now_returning_kicks_for_the_be.html |title=Now returning kicks for the Bears: Defensive end Henry Melton? – Sports Pros(e) |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=August 15, 2009 |access-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723221355/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sportsprose/2009/08/now_returning_kicks_for_the_be.html |archive-date=July 23, 2012 }} Melton registered his first NFL sack on Brett Favre during a Week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings.(November 17, 2010)[http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/bears-melton-credited-with-sack-of-favre.html Bears' Melton credited with sack of QB Favre] Chicagobreakingnews.com

In 2011, Melton recorded a career-high 7 sacks, third most by a defensive tackle, behind Bengals' Geno Atkins and Raiders' Tommy Kelly, who had {{frac|7|1|2}} sacks apiece. Melton and teammate and center Roberto Garza were eventually named to the USA Today All-Joe Team.{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Garza-Melton-voted-to-USA-Todays-All-Joe-team/904FF782-DC4D-4F66-91D5-7FBA4BC7C860 |title=Garza, Melton land on "All-Joe" team |publisher=Chicago Bears |date=February 9, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403074841/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Garza-Melton-voted-to-USA-Todays-All-Joe-team/904FF782-DC4D-4F66-91D5-7FBA4BC7C860 |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In 2012, during organized team activities (OTAs), Melton appeared in the backfield as a running back, resembling former Bears defensive lineman and fullback William Perry; Melton had not played running back since his days at Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d829a3889/article/henry-melton-the-bears-new-fridge?module=HP11_content_stream |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811053546/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d829a3889/article/henry-melton-the-bears-new-fridge?module=HP11_content_stream |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |title=Henry Melton the Bears' new 'Fridge' |work=NFL.com |date=June 7, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2012}} In the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, Melton sacked Andrew Luck twice as the Bears went on to win 41–21.{{cite web|url=http://blog.chicagobears.com/2012/09/10/ |title=Write Now Blog | 2012 | September | 10 |publisher=Chicago Bears |date=September 10, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913195140/http://blog.chicagobears.com/2012/09/10/ |archive-date=September 13, 2012 }} On December 26, Melton was named to his first Pro Bowl.{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2013-pro-bowl-roster-analysis-nfc-0ap1000000117397|title=2013 Pro Bowl roster analysis: NFC|publisher=National Football League|date=December 26, 2012|access-date=December 26, 2012}} In the 2012 season, Melton recorded 32 tackles and six sacks, tied for third in the league among defensive tackles.{{cite web|last=Mayer |first=Larry |url=http://blog.chicagobears.com/2012/12/28/meltons-move-inside-pays-major-dividends/ |title=Melton's move pays major dividends |publisher=Chicago Bears |date=December 28, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102154128/http://blog.chicagobears.com/2012/12/28/meltons-move-inside-pays-major-dividends/ |archive-date=January 2, 2013 }} On March 1, 2013, Melton was given the franchise tag by the Bears,{{cite web|last=Wilkening|first=Mike|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/01/bears-give-henry-melton-the-franchise-tag/related/|title=Bears give Henry Melton the franchise tag|publisher=Profootballtalk.com|date=March 1, 2013|access-date=March 1, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304085717/http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/01/bears-give-henry-melton-the-franchise-tag/related/|url-status=dead}} worth $8.45 million.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/agent-says-bears-melton-accepts-042236262--nfl.html |title=Agent says Bears' Melton accepts franchise tender |work=Yahoo! Sports |date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313075432/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/agent-says-bears-melton-accepts-042236262--nfl.html |archive-date=March 13, 2013 }}

In 2013, Melton was carted from the field during the third game on September 22, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a left knee injury. A Lachman test on the field was indicative of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and an MRI was scheduled.Wilson, Aaron (September 23, 2013), NFLPost.com. [https://sports.yahoo.com/news/bears-worried-melton-may-torn-121047401--nfl.html "Bears worried Melton may have torn ACL"] On September 23, Melton was ruled out for the remainder of the 2013 season,{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Henry-Melton-out-for-year-with-torn-ACL/e5f11b34-5114-4b1a-acc1-7531f0d27f6f|title=Henry Melton out for year with torn ACL|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=September 23, 2013|access-date=September 23, 2013}} and was placed on injured reserve four days later.{{cite news|last=Biggs|first=Brad|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-landon-cohen-20130927,0,7760800.story|title=Bears sign defensive tackle Cohen, put Melton on IR|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 27, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928163715/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-landon-cohen-20130927,0,7760800.story|archive-date=September 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}

On March 18, 2014, Melton signed a 1-year contract along with incentives, including a team option for 3 more years with the Dallas Cowboys, hoping he could regain his Pro Bowl form.{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-add-henry-melton-unlikely-to-sign-jared-allen-0ap2000000335160|title=Cowboys add Henry Melton, unlikely to sign Jared Allen|publisher=National Football League|date=March 18, 2014|access-date=March 18, 2014}} After missing the last 13 games of the 2013 season with a torn ACL, he struggled in training camp as his knee recovered and he worked through a groin strain. Although he began the season as a starter at defensive tackle, injuries forced him into a pass-rushing role, with Tyrone Crawford passing him on the depth chart. His production faded as the year went on and his season ended with a bone bruise on his right knee and being placed on the injured reserve list before the playoffs. He finished with 5 sacks (registered in the first 9 games), 20 tackles, 17 quarterback pressures, 4 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries. On February 14, 2015, the Cowboys declined to exercise the contract's three year option, allowing him to become a free agent on March 14, 2015.{{cite web|last1=George |first1=Brandon |title=Source: Dallas Cowboys decline to pick up 3-year option on DT Henry Melton's contract, making him a free agent |url=http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/02/source-dallas-cowboys-decline-to-pick-up-3-year-option-on-dt-henry-meltons-contract-making-him-a-free-agent.html/ |website=Dallas Morning News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215002643/http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/02/source-dallas-cowboys-decline-to-pick-up-3-year-option-on-dt-henry-meltons-contract-making-him-a-free-agent.html/ |archive-date=February 15, 2015 }}

On March 12, 2015, Melton agreed to terms and signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting him with his old head coach Lovie Smith.{{cite web|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Get-Defensive-Sign-Melton-Conte/0f379180-4ac6-49df-8b16-381e30122f65|title=Bucs Get Defensive, Sign Melton, Conte|work=Buccaneers.com|first=Scott|last=Smith|date=March 12, 2015|access-date=March 12, 2015|archive-date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312215255/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Get-Defensive-Sign-Melton-Conte/0f379180-4ac6-49df-8b16-381e30122f65|url-status=dead}} He was a backup that was used at defensive tackle and defensive end, posting 30 tackles (second highest mark in his career), 2 sacks, 2 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries.

On August 21, 2016, Melton signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos.{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-sign-henry-melton-to-one-year-deal-0ap3000000688702|title=Broncos sign Henry Melton to one-year deal|first=Conor|last=Orr|date=August 21, 2016|access-date=August 21, 2016}} On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Broncos.{{cite web|title=Broncos make 23 moves to pare roster at the deadline|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncos-make-23-moves-to-pare-roster-at-the-deadline/13177d79-b2fb-44da-b2db-8a604e8e6dec|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819223025/http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncos-make-23-moves-to-pare-roster-at-the-deadline/13177d79-b2fb-44da-b2db-8a604e8e6dec|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2017|last=Mason|first=Andrew|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=September 3, 2016}}

On June 1, 2007, while a Junior at the University of Texas, Melton was arrested and charged with intoxicated driving in downtown Austin, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2889986|title=Texas officials looking into defensive end's arrest|publisher=ESPN|date=June 1, 2007|access-date=December 22, 2013}}

In 2013, Melton was involved in an altercation at a bar in the Dallas area, but the criminal charges were ultimately dropped by the prosecution.{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2014|agency=Associated Press |title=Charges dropped against Melton in bar case |url=http://www.espn.in/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/10964628/charges-dismissed-henry-melton-dallas-cowboys-texas-bar-case |access-date=October 2, 2018 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Grapevine, Texas

Category:American football defensive tackles

Category:American football defensive ends

Category:American football running backs

Category:Texas Longhorns football players

Category:Chicago Bears players

Category:Dallas Cowboys players

Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players

Category:Denver Broncos players

Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players