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.

[6] 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.

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.

Melton measured 6 ft 3+1⁄8 in (190.8 cm) tall and 269 lb (122 kg) and ran a 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds at the University of Texas Pro Day.

[24] 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.

[25] 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.

[26] 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.