Sione Vaki

Last updated

Sione Vaki
No. 33 – Detroit Lions
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (2001-07-30) July 30, 2001 (age 22)
Antioch, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school: Liberty
(Brentwood, California)
College: Utah (2022–2023)
NFL draft: 2024  / Round: 4 / Pick: 132
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards

Sione Vaki (born July 30, 2001) is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes as a two-way player. Vaki was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life and high school

Vaki attended Liberty High School in Brentwood, California. In Vaki's high school career he played on both sides of the ball. On offense he rushed for 401 yards and seven touchdowns, while also bringing in 107 receptions for 2,203 yards and 32 touchdowns. On defense he notched 142 tackles with one being for a loss, five interceptions, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns, Vaki also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. [1] Vaki committed to play college football at the University of Utah. [2] [3]

College career

In Vaki's true freshman season in 2022 he totalled 41 tackles with 3.5 going for a loss, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble. [4]

In week one of the 2023 season, he recorded his first career interception versus the Florida Gators. [5] In week seven, Vaki had a breakout game where he played both ways of the ball as he rushed 15 times for 158 yards and two touchdown to help the Utes beat California. [6] In the following week, he rushed nine times for 68 yards, while also hauling in five receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns, while also notching two tackles and having the best coverage grade on the Utes, as helped them upset USC 34-32. [7] The rest of the season, the Utes formulated a plan to use Vaki more on offense. [8] [9]

As a sophomore, Vaki finished the season with 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions on defense. On offense he had 317 yards rushing (7.5 yards per carry) and two rushing touchdowns. As well as 11 receptions for 203 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was voted to the first-team All-Pac-12 team twice in 2023, both as a safety and a special teams/all-purpose player. [10] Following the 2023 season, Vaki declared for the 2024 NFL draft after playing two seasons of college football, as he went on a three year mission trip following his high school graduation. [11]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m)		210 lb
(95 kg)		29+1⁄8 in
(0.74 m)		8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		4.51 s1.57 s2.59 s4.28 s7.16 s39.5 in
(1.00 m)		10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		20 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [12] [13]

Vaki was selected in the fourth round, 132nd overall, by the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL draft. [14]

Personal life

Vaki lost his mother Oto’ota due to cancer. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boss Bailey</span> American football player (born 1979)

Rodney "Boss" Bailey is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia. He is the brother of Hall of Fame NFL cornerback Champ Bailey.

Matthew Arthur Grootegoed is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the University of Southern California, and was recognized as an All-American. He was signed by the NFL's Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2005, and also played for the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Jones (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Nathan Jones is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers University. He is currently a game official in the NFL, working as a field judge since the 2019 NFL season. As an NFL field judge, Jones wears the uniform number 33.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tye Hill</span> American football player (born 1982)

John Tye Hill is an American former professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons. He played college football for Clemson University, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions.

Luther John Elliss is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. Selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, Elliss played professionally for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos of the NFL and was a two-time Pro Bowler. He worked as the defensive line coach at Idaho from 2017 until being named defensive tackles coach at Utah in 2022. He has four sons that also play football: Kaden, Christian, Noah, and Jonah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Houston (American football)</span> American football player (born 1984)

Christopher Don Houston is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Houston was also a member of the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Weddle</span> American football player (born 1985)

Eric Steven Weddle is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the Utah Utes, where he earned consensus All-American honors in 2006, and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. During his nine seasons with the Chargers, Weddle received three Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro selections. Weddle spent his next three seasons as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, earning Pro Bowl honors in each and extending his total selections to six. He retired after playing for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, but returned two years later to join the Rams on their playoff run, which culminated with a victory in Super Bowl LVI. Following the championship, he retired a second time.

The 1952 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League. The Lions won their second National Football League (NFL) championship, having won their first championship 17 years earlier in 1935. The team's co-captains were halfback Robert Hoernschemeyer and defensive tackle John Prchlik, and defensive end Jim Doran was selected as the team's most valuable player. In their third year under head coach Buddy Parker, the 1952 Lions compiled a 9–3 record during the regular season, finished in a tie with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFL's National Conference, defeated the Rams in a tiebreaker game, and defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17–7, in the 1952 NFL Championship Game at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alphonso Smith</span> American football player (born 1985)

Alphonso Smith, Jr. is an American former professional and college football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. Smith played college football for Wake Forest University, and received consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and also played for the NFL's Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amari Spievey</span> American football player (born 1988)

Amari Spievey is a former American football safety who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa. He was considered one of the top cornerback prospects for the 2010 NFL draft. He was picked in the 3rd round in the draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Van Noy</span> American football player (born 1991)

Kyle Van Noy is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Van Noy played college football at BYU. He was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, with whom he spent his first three seasons. Van Noy played his next four seasons for the New England Patriots, where he won Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII. Following a year as a member of the Miami Dolphins, he rejoined New England in 2021. Van Noy signed with the Los Angeles Chargers the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquis Flowers</span> American football player (born 1992)

Marquis Flowers is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona. He also played for the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darius Slay</span> American football player (born 1991)

Darius Demetrius Slay Jr. is an American football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Itawamba before transferring to Mississippi State and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith McGill</span> American football player (born 1989)

Keith William McGill II is a former American football safety. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft and played for them until 2017. He played college football for the Utah Utes and spent one season with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayron Kearse</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jayron Kearse is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Fields</span> American football player (born 1999)

Justin Skyler Fields is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with the Georgia Bulldogs, he played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he was twice named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and appeared in the 2021 National Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zack Moss</span> American football player (born 1997)

Zaccheus Malik Moss is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Jaylon Lawrence Johnson is an American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Penisini</span> American football player (born 1997)

John Nau Penisini is an American football nose tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Snow College before transferring to Utah and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Nephi Sewell is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nevada and Utah and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Sione Vaki Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Liberty High School two-way football star Sione Vaki signs letter of intent to attend University of Utah". The Press.net. February 8, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ Stark, Alex (February 6, 2019). "Utah Signs S Sione Vaki". Block U. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ Bagley, Cole (February 8, 2023). "Utes on the rise: Safety Sione Vaki". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ Holt, Chandler (August 31, 2023). "Sione Vaki Interception Leads To Bryson Barnes Rushing Touchdown". KSL Sports. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  6. ↑ Borba, Kevin. "Utah Led To Victory By College Football's Next Two-Way Star Sione Vaki". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ Coles, Joe. "Before starring at Utah, Sione Vaki flashed two-way prowess on California high school fields". Deseret News. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ Borba, Kevin. "Utah's Sione Vaki On Track To Offensive Focus For Utes After Breakout Showings". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ Walden, Eric. "Will Sione Vaki start playing more offense than defense? It's 'trending in that direction.'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Sione Vaki". Sports Reference - CFB.
  11. ↑ "Utah two-way star Sione Vaki has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft". 247Sports.
  12. ↑ "Sione Vaki Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Sione Vaki College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  14. ↑ Birkett, Dave (April 27, 2024). "Detroit Lions trade up, take Utah's do-it-all Sione Vaki in Round 4 of NFL draft". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  15. ↑ Bodkin, Michelle. "Exclusive: Utah Football's Sione Vaki Talks Making His Late Mother Proud". KSL Sports. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.