In what is a deep 2024 NFL Draft, cornerback Max Melton could be one of the best at his position available.
To get to the NFL, though, he had to create a legacy somewhere. Where did he go to school?
Where Did Max Melton’s Football Career Start?
Raised in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, N.J., Melton attended Cedar Creek High School. He played for head coach Tim Watson and helped guide the team to a 10-3 record.
Melton played both offense and defense, catching 60 passes for 785 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 211 yards and a touchdown.
Melton was named second-team All-New Jersey by USA Today and All-South Jersey by the Philadelphia Inquirer, both in 2019.
MORE: Top CBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Melton was also selected to the 2019 Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Team as a wide receiver and was named Press of Atlantic City first-team All-Star on defense.
Melton was a three-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247Sports. He initially committed to Purdue, but later flipped his commitment to Rutgers, where he signed.
Revisiting Melton’s College Career
It didn’t take long for Melton to get on the field, playing in nine games with six starts during his freshman season. He made 21 tackles and had one tackle for loss, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery.
As a sophomore, Melton started 10 games, making 28 tackles with three interceptions and six pass breakups. He did, however, miss three games due to a suspension stemming from a paintball incident.
Max Melton established himself as a high-level coverage defender with @RFootball, and there's a LOT for NFL teams to like. 😤#GoRU | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/48Fou0FMWV
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 15, 2024
In both his junior and season seasons, Melton started all 12 games. In those two seasons, he made 65 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, 16 pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
Melton’s Potential in the NFL
According to Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings, Melton grades out as a top-64 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“He’s worth early-to-mid Day 2 capital and should only rise once he tests at the NFL Combine,” Cummings said. “Particularly for teams that employ more press-man and off-man coverages, Melton should be heavily coveted.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Max Melton
“At 5’11”, 193 pounds, with 32″ arms, Melton has an incredibly unique frame. One that brings the benefits of both a smaller and larger cornerback. He plays low in his stance and is extremely fleet-footed, agile, and elastic — but he also has a wide disruption radius and the long-strider speed to chew up space and erase gaps.”
Some of his greatest attributes include his wiry frame, elite explosiveness, energetic short-area movement, and elite recovery capacity. His weaknesses, however, include his lack of high-end play strength, wasted movement, and lack of discipline with route leverage.
Highlights, Records, and More
In his collegiate career, Melton earned six different honors. Here’s each one:
- 2023 Third-Team All-Big Ten (College Football Network)
- 2023 Fourth-Team All-Big Ten (Phil Steele)
- 2023 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches & Media)
- 2022 Fourth-Team All-Big Ten (Phil Steele)
- 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches & Media)
- 2021 Fourth-Team All-Big Ten (Phil Steele)
Draft with your friends today! PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator now supports multiple drafters during the same draft! Ensure your player rankings are up to date on the 2024 NFL Draft Big Board and you know what every NFL team needs before drafting.
