Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Lions Draft Pick #132 S/RB Sione Vaki

Scouting Reports:








Rankings:


Grades:


Articles:

2024 NFL Draft Sleepers: Jalen Coker, Tyrone Tracy Jr. Lead Underrated Prospects To Know (6. Sione Vaki, S, Utah:  Some would argue that Sione Vaki projects out more favorably as a running back heading into the NFL. Still, his impact as a safety at Utah makes me feel comfortable projecting as an impact player on that side of the football.  Vaki is a physical presence in the box who has the plus-level short-area quickness to shoot gaps on outside rushing concepts and break down with ease in space as an underneath slot defender.  He is a bit undersized and lacks the vertical speed to thrive as a single-high safety, but he could be instrumental as an instinctive player near the line of scrimmage who plays with a faster processor than his 40-yard dash time suggests.) (4-23-24):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2024-nfl-draft-sleepers/

NFL Draft sleepers: 11 potential steals in 2024 include Spencer Rattler, Brenden Rice (Also watch: Sione Vaki, Utah. Vaki is one of the most versatile players in the NFL Draft, as he played both safety and running back at Utah. He could play either position in the pros, but his thick, 210-pound frame would play well at safety. He has good instincts and is a rock-solid tackler, so keep an eye out for him on Day 3 of the draft. It will be interesting to see what position he ultimately plays in the NFL.) (4-23-24):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-sleepers-2024-steals-value-picks/a52ae2e36e9f8b366c925d78

7 slept-on 2024 NFL Draft prospects, from Dylan Laube to a Division III star, who could make a difference on Sundays (5. S Sione Vaki, Utah:  Vaki isn’t particularly big for an NFL safety. He doesn’t bring eye-popping stats after only two years of FBS football.  What he has, to borrow a phrase from the youths, is that dog in him.  Vaki did whatever Utah needed in his two seasons, serving as a downfield deterrent and backfield presence as a safety and running back. He’s never seen a problem he wasn’t willing to run face-first into, making him valuable in the box against the run or chasing down receivers after the catch.  While that can lead to rough angles and frustrating mistakes, those are coachable issues — and Vaki is imminently coachable. He’s the kind of guy someone like Dan Campbell or Mike McDaniel would absolutely love to have on staff. The question is whether he can overcome that lack of length and average athleticism and be a valuable coverage safety against NFL offenses.) (4-22-24):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-draft-sleepers-7-players-draft-bargains-dylan-laube

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Safeties (8. S SIONE VAKI, UTAH - PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 124.  If he is fully committed to playing running back in the NFL, he has the physical gifts, athletic ability and playmaker's vision to be a contributing player out of the backfield.) (4-22-24):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-position-rankings-safeties

5 Safeties Who Are Perfect Fits for Detroit Lions (Sione Vaki, Utah:  One of the most interesting talents in the Draft is Vaki, who brings a two-sided set of skills. He played both safety and running back at the collegiate level last season and had moderate success in both areas. He’s expected to be a defensive back at the next level, as he worked out with the secondary during the NFL Combine. However, with his ability to impact the game as a runner it’s not hard to see him carving out a solid special teams role early in his career. The Lions have clearly done their homework on the talented player, as he took a top-30 visit with the team. He’ll have to develop as a coverage player, but he has many of the desired instincts when it comes to being a pure ‘football player,’ that Brad Holmes covets. ) (4-20-24):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/safeties-perfect-fits-for-lions

Lions have a pre-draft visit with Sione Vaki, a very unusual talent (4-4-24):  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/04/detroit-lions-pre-draft-visit-sione-vaki-utah/


2024 NFL Draft all-underrated team: 10 prospects who are better than you think (SAFETY: Sione Vaki, Utah - During his junior year, Vaki emerged as a dual-threat star, finishing the season with two more offensive touches (53) than tackles (51).  Vaki averaged 7.5 yards on 42 carries and added 203 yards on 11 receptions. Utah deployed him as a Wildcat quarterback on this 72-yard touchdown against California.  With the NFL's revised kickoff, who knows, he could become a special teams ace on both ends.) (4-4-24)  https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/2024_nfl_draft_all_underrated_team_10_prospects_who_are_better_than_you_think/s1_13132_40196847

Sione Vaki Draft Networking Interview: 'I Never Have To Come Off The Field' (4-3-24):  https://thedraftnetwork.com/2024/04/03/sione-vaki-nfl-draft-interview

NFL Combine results: 5 standouts from the safety group (Sione Vaki, Utah (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) - Another pre-Combine watchlister, it doesn’t take long watching Vaki to see how he’d fit in with the Lions. Vaki played both ways at Utah last season (stepped up at running back due to injury) and he looks like a junkyard dog no matter what role he is in.  In on-field drills, Vaki looks like a running back, runs like a running back, but attacks like a safety. The level of focus and aggression was off-the-charts when he was on the field, as it looked like he was approaching every rep like it was his last. Vaki is another player who vortexed any ball that was anywhere close to him, which is not overly surprising considering his experience on offense.  Vaki stuck around after the safety drills concluded to take part in some running back drills at the request of teams that were considering him for an offensive position.) (3-1-24):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/3/2/24088102/nfl-combine-results-5-standouts-safety-prospects-2024-draft

NFL Combine preview: 5 safeties the Lions should watch (Sione Vaki, Utah (5-foot-11 1⁄2, 211 pounds):  While Bishop is the more talented safety in Utah’s secondary, Vaki’s willingness to do anything to help his team succeed will grab coach Dan Campbell’s attention. He is a technique power tackler and is experienced in split-zone coverage, but his biggest strengths will likely come via his special teams contributions as a rookie.  Vaki’s dedication to his team showed up in 2023 when injuries in the running backs room led to a unique situation. Vaki was asked to play both ways this past season and took snaps at running back to help lighten the load on offense. In total, he ran 42 times for 317 yards and two touchdowns, while also making 11 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Not bad for a safety.) (2-28-24):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/2/28/24083900/2024-nfl-combine-preview-5-safeties-the-detroit-lions-should-watch

NFL Combine 2024: 5 SAFs Who Can Raise NFL Draft Stock (SIONE VAKI, UTAH - Sione Vaki is a 5-foot-11, 211-pound compact prospect that competed in Mobile. A former running back who was still utilized as a two-way player in 2023, Vaki showcased improvement with his downhill trigger, proven by his career-high 8.5 tackles for loss. Vaki also totaled 520 yards of offense and five touchdowns. It takes a special kind of athlete to play on both sides.  Vaki has previously bench-pressed 400 pounds, vertical jumped 39 inches, and broad jumped 10 feet, 5.5 inches, according to Bruce Feldman. Had Vaki posted those leaping numbers in 2023, he would have placed in the top five among all participating safeties in both categories. Vaki might jump out of the gym.) (2-23-24):  https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/02/23/nfl-combine-2024-saf-draft

2024 Senior Bowl Preview: Top matchups, players to watch (TE JAHEIM BELL VS. S SIONE VAKI - Bell has been the most impressive player from the tight end group this week, given he is the most athletic and can play inline, in the slot, on the outside or even out of the backfield. Vaki will be a good counter to that.  Vaki is so versatile that he even played running back along with leading the Utes in defensive snaps played as a safety. There’s not much more to explaining this matchup other than it being a fun one between two good athletes who could gain some ground in their draft position rankings.) (2-3-24):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-senior-bowl-preview-top-matchups-players-to-watch-2024-nfl-draft

2024 Senior Bowl Preview: One player to watch at each position, including Oregon QB Bo Nix (S: SIONE VAKI, UTAH - PFF Big Board Rank: 71.  Vaki might be the most interesting player in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Most of his in-season reps were at safety, but he also played running back against Cal and rushed for 158 yards and two scores on 15 carries. And against USC, he recorded five catches for 149 and two touchdowns. Vaki is an all-around athlete who has a lot of hit power over the middle. He feels like a 2024 version of Shaq Thompson. He’ll likely be playing only on defense at the Senior Bowl, but that versatility is quite alluring.) (1-30-24):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-senior-bowl-preview-one-player-to-watch-each-position-regon-qb-bo-nix

Las Vegas Bowl NFL Prospect Preview: Ja’Quinden Jackson, Sione Vaki Headline Utah vs. Northwestern Matchup (Sione Vaki, RB/S:  Not many playmakers were as fun to watch in 2023 as Sione Vaki. That being said, it was shocking to see him declare for the draft as a third-year sophomore. Vaki was a rotational safety until Cole Bishop suffered an injury, and he suddenly became Utah’s saving grace as the change-of-pace and trick-play running back.  The 6’0″, 208-pounder projects best as an offensive weapon. He totaled 520 yards and five touchdowns on only 53 touches. His straight-line speed and acceleration make him a must-watch threat for defenses to track.  But Vaki isn’t experienced on either side of the ball. He’s a good enough tackler and can occasionally be used as a blitzer. His route running, vision as a ball carrier, and play strength are all untested on a bigger scale.  Vaki is incredibly interesting, but it’s hard to imagine a team would take him higher than Day 3 as a flier pick. There’s too much risk and projection otherwise.) (12-23-23):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/las-vegas-bowl-nfl-prospect-preview-draft-2023/

NFL Draft: Position-by-position scouting report of early entries (Sione Vaki, Utah: With only two years of college football experience, Vaki is a rarity among NFL prospects, but being different is nothing new for this year's Paul Hornung Award winner, as the nation's most versatile player. Already possessing the frame, speed and awareness of an NFL vet, Vaki registered a career-high 51 tackles in 2023, with 8.5 of them for loss and two sacks to go along with an interception. With injuries to teammates, he was also pressed into duty at running back, slot receiver and even quarterback for the Utes, generating 520 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. He is eligible for the 2024 draft after spending a year on an LDS mission. Questions about his cleanest fit in the NFL might rattle some critics, but not as much as Vaki's sure, physical tackling did to opponents. Grade: second-third round) (12-21-23):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/nfl-draft-position-by-position-scouting-report-of-early-entries

NFL Draft: Five one-on-one matchups scouts are eager to watch in Week 11 (But to call Bishop versatile might be an insult to Vaki, who has not only starred on the defensive side of the ball but on offense, as well. He reverted to his two-way high school days two weeks ago against Cal, exploding for 158 yards and two touchdowns at running back when injuries to teammates forced the Utes to call upon the athletic and highly physical 5-11, 205-pounder. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Vaki ranks just one tackle behind Bishop for second on the team in tackles (45) while also ranking second to star edge rusher Jonah Elliss in tackles for loss with 7.5.) (11-9-23):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/nfl-draft-five-one-on-one-matchups-scouts-are-eager-to-watch-in-week-11

Week 8 College Football Team of the Week: Ollie Gordon II, Bucky Irving are Superstars (FLEX: Sione Vaki, Utah - The living embodiment of the term FLEX on offense, Sione Vaki is making fans worldwide with his performance for Utah. Vaki — a two-way player who also plays safety — toted the rock nine times for 68 yards, every yard of which felt like he took a bit of the soul of the USC defense with him.  Vaki’s biggest influence came in space, however, and through the air. He hauled in five receptions for a whopping 149 yards and two scores as he was just too big and too fast for the USC defense to contend with whenever he had the ball.) (10-22-23):  https://collegefootballnetwork.com/week-8-college-football-team-of-the-week-2023/

Week 7 College Football Team of the Week: Elic Ayomanor, Michael Penix Jr., and Xavier Watts Give Legendary Performances (Travis Hunter Award: Sione Vaki, Utah.  There may have been other running backs rushing the ball more times or for more yards than Sione Vaki, but none have a more impressive feat accomplished. Given the fact that Vaki was a full-time safety just two weeks against Oregon State, his 158-yard performance on the ground for the Utah Utes was impressive.  Vaki rushed the ball 15 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, proving to be a valuable two-way weapon.) (10-16-23):  https://collegefootballnetwork.com/week-7-college-football-team-of-the-week-2023/




Posted by LionsFan at 1:59 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }