Max Melton
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Max Melton
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Arizona Cardinals
| number = 16
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|4|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Mays Landing, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 193
| high_school = Cedar Creek
(Egg Harbor City, New Jersey)
| college = Rutgers (2020–2023)
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 43
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 51
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 5
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = MeltMa00
}}
Malachi "Max" Melton (born April 15, 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life
Melton grew up in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey and attended Cedar Creek High School. Melton initially committed to play college football at Purdue over offers from Rutgers and Temple.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/new-jersey/malachi-melton-cedar-creek-football-recruiting-purdue-20190717.html|title=Recruiting: Cedar Creek football star Malachi Melton commits to Purdue|first=Phil|last=Anastasia|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=May 4, 2023}} He flipped his commitment to Rutgers during his senior year.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2019/12/rutgers-flips-malachi-melton-from-purdue-for-greg-schianos-4th-commitment.html|title=Rutgers flips legacy Malachi Melton from Purdue for Greg Schiano’s 4th pledge since return|first=Todderick|last=Hunt|website=NJ.com|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=May 4, 2023}}
College career
Melton played in nine games with six starts during his freshman season with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and made 21 tackles. He started ten games at cornerback as a sophomore and had 28 tackles with three interceptions and six passes broken up.{{cite web|url=https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/2022/02/10/rutgers-defensive-back-max-melton-ranked-as-a-potential-defensive-breakout-star/|title=Rutgers defensive back Max Melton ranked as a potential defensive breakout star|first=Kristian|last=Dyer|website=Rutgers Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=February 10, 2022|access-date=May 7, 2023}} Melton missed three games due to a suspension.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/4198640/2021/09/21/rutgers-suspends-cbs-max-melton-chris-long-after-paintball-gun-incident/|title=Rutgers suspends CBs Max Melton, Chris Long after paintball gun incident|website=The Athletic|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=May 4, 2023}} He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after recording 33 tackles with two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and ten passes broken up.{{cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2023/05/02/rutgers-football-recruiting-prospects-2024-nfl-draft-scarlet-knights/70168234007/|title=Rutgers football team has top prospects for 2024 NFL Draft|work=Asbury Park Press|date=May 2, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11
| weight = 187
| dash = 4.39
| ten split = 1.51
| twenty split = 2.56
| shuttle = 4.29
| cone drill = 6.95
| vertical = 40.5
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 4
| bench = 16
| arm span = 32 1/8
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/max-melton/32004d45-4c61-0078-d54e-f88d1ef7246e |title=Max Melton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 26, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1041413&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Max Melton College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 26, 2024}}
}}
Melton was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round with the 43rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web|last=Urban|first=Darren|date=April 26, 2024|title=Cardinals Take Max Melton With Second-Round Pick|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-take-cornerback-max-melton-with-second-round-pick|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=azcardinals.com}}
Personal life
Melton's father, Gary, played football at Rutgers and his mother, Vicky, played on the women's basketball team.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2021/09/their-blood-runs-scarlet-how-the-bond-between-bo-and-max-melton-and-their-parents-fuels-rutgers.html|title=Their blood runs Scarlet: How the bond between Bo and Max Melton (and their parents) fuels Rutgers|first=Keith|last=Sargeant|website=NJ.com|date=September 8, 2021|access-date=May 4, 2023}} His older brother, Bo Melton, played wide receiver at Rutgers and currently plays in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2021/09/16/rutgers-football-max-melton-learned-brother-bo-big-ten-delaware/8335385002/|title=How Rutgers football Max Melton learns from brother Bo Melton|work=Asbury Park Press|date=September 16, 2021|access-date=May 4, 2023}} Another brother, Gary Jr., played football at Delaware State.{{Cite web |last=Mulranen |first=Patrick |date=May 7, 2021 |title=Rutgers, Melton brothers well-represented on Black Horse Pike |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/college/rutgers-melton-brothers-well-represented-on-black-horse-pike/article_0e9fbdda-c5e1-528a-bdc1-7462ea82db14.html |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=Press of Atlantic City}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.azcardinals.com/team/players-roster/max-melton/ Arizona Cardinals bio]
- [https://scarletknights.com/sports/football/roster/max-melton/12794 Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio]
{{Arizona Cardinals roster navbox}}
{{Arizona Cardinals 2024 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melton, Max}}
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:People from Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey
Category:Players of American football from Atlantic County, New Jersey