SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 27, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The University of Utah sent three more players to the pros Saturday, with safety Sione Vaki, guard Sataoa Laumea and wide receiver Devaughn Vele being selected on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Vaki was selected by the draft host Detroit Lions in the fourth round (No. 132 overall), Laumea went to the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round (No. 179), and Vele was picked in the seventh round (No. 235) by the Denver Broncos.
In all, five Utes were selected during the three-day draft, with safety Cole Bishop going in the second round (No. 60) to the Buffalo Bills and defensive end Jonah Elliss being picked in the third round (No. 76) by the Broncos.
Vaiki, 22, played in 26 career games and made 17 starts at Utah while also seeing action on offense.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound safety was an All-Pac-12 Conference First Team selection as a sophomore in 2023, finishing with 41 tackles 3.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. He also earned Second Team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News.
The Antioch, California, native also played seven games at running back in 2023, turning in big performances in back-to-back games vs. Cal on Oct. 14 (15 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns) and at USC on Oct. 21 (five catches for 149 yards and two TDs, and nine rushes for 68 yards).
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Vaki as a “gamer who does whatever is necessary to help his team win.”
Laumea, 23, played in 45 games at Utah and started in 44 consecutive games (19 at right guard and 25 at right tackle). The Rialto, California, native was a four-time All-Pac-12 selection, earning first team honors in 2022, second team in 2022 and 2020, and honorable mention in 2021.
The 6-4, 319-pound guard played a key role on Utah’s offensive line that finished in the top three in the Pac-12 in rushing offense for three consecutive seasons and led the conference in 2021 and 2022.
“Laumea fits all run schemes and has future starting potential at guard,” Zierlein said.
Vele, 26, began his collegiate career as a walk-on and ended up playing 47 career games and making 28 starts at Utah.
The 6-4, 203-pound wide receiver collected a team-high 43 catches for 593 yards and three touchdowns last season. He ranked second on the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (695) while scoring five TDs as a junior in 2022.
The San Diego, California, native earned an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2022 and posted three 100-yard receiving games in his career.
“Vele won’t win with quickness or speed, but his attention to detail as a route runner and willingness to utilize his play strength helps create advantages,” Zierlein said, praising the receiver’s “great catch radius.”
Former Corner Canyon High School star Jackson Powers-Johnson was the highest player with Utah ties selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders used a second-round pick (No. 44 overall) on the Oregon center Friday night.
BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia was selected in the third round (No. 63) by the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Suamataia also played at Orem High School.
Several other players with Utah ties went undrafted but signed free-agent deals with NFL teams Saturday:
- Utah cornerback Miles Battle signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Utah offensive lineman Keaton Bills signed with the Buffalo Bills.
- BYU/Lehi High School tight end Dallin Holker signed with the New Orleans Saints.
- BYU punter Ryan Rehkow signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Weber State/Copper Hills High School linebacker Winston Reid signed with the Cleveland Browns.
- BYU tight end Isaac Rex signed with the Detroit Lions.
- BYU running back Aidan Robbins signed with the Cleveland Browns.
- BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
- BYU/Bountiful High School linebacker Max Tooley signed with the Houston Texans.
- Southern Utah wide receiver Isaiah Wooden signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
- Utah tight end Thomas Yassmin signed with the Denver Broncos.
