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Sione Vaki Picked In Fourth Round Of 2024 NFL Draft By Detroit

by Utah Athletics
Apr 27, 2024

DETROIT – Former University of Utah Football safety Sione Vaki has been picked 132nd overall and in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Vaki is Utah's third pick in this year's draft.

He is the 17th defensive back taken in the Kyle Whittingham era, marking the first time since 2020 that the Utes have had multiple members of the secondary go in the same draft (Cole Bishop, 2nd Round, Buffalo). Vaki is Utah's 15th player taken by Detroit in the draft in program history.  

DEFENSIVE BACKS IN THE NFL DRAFT: WHITTINGHAM ERA
2024: Sione Vaki, 4th Round (132nd overall), Detroit
2024: Cole Bishop, 2nd Round (60th overall), Buffalo
2023: Clark Phillips III, 4th Round (113th overall), Atlanta
2020: Jaylon Johnson, 2nd Round (50th overall), Chicago
2020: Julian Blackmon, 3rd Round (85th overall), Indianapolis
2020: Terrell Burgess, 3rd Round (104th overall), L.A. Rams
2019: Marquise Blair, 2nd Round (47th overall), Seattle
2017: Marcus Williams, 2nd Round (42nd overall), New Orleans
2017: Brian Allen, 5th Round (173rd overall), Pittsburgh
2015: Eric Rowe, 2nd Round (47th overall), Philadelphia
2014: Keith McGill, 4th Round (116th overall), Oakland
2011: Brandon Burton, 5th Round (139th overall), Minnesota
2010: Robert Johnson, 5th Round (148th overall), Tennessee
2010: R.J. Stanford, 7th Round (223rd overall), Carolina
2009: Sean Smith, 2nd Round (61st overall), Miami
2009: Brice McCain, 6th Round (188th overall), Houston
2007: Eric Weddle, 2nd Round (37th overall), San Diego

SIONE VAKI | SAFETY
Hometown: Antioch, Calif.   
High School: Three-star recruit out of Liberty HS.
Utah Awards: 2023 finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and the Paul Hornung Award; 2023 All-American as an all-purpose player and safety; 2023 All-Pac-12
Career Games at Utah: 26 career games with 17 starts

2023 Quick Hits: Started at safety in 12 games, also splitting time at running back in seven.    

  • Tallied 51 tackles (8.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks), an interception, two pass breakups, 42 carries for 317 yards (2 TDs) and 11 catches for 203 yards (3 TDs).
  • Career-high nine stops against both No. 22 UCLA and No. 19 Oregon State.
  • Had 158 rushing yards against Cal on 15 carries (2 TDs).

2022 Quick Hits: Played in all 14 games as a true freshman, starting five, recording 41 tackles (3.5 TFL) with a forced fumble and three pass breakups.

  • Tied his career-high in tackles with nine against Washington State.
  • Had 2.0 TFL in the regular season finale against Colorado.

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UTES DRAFTED IN 2024
Cole Bishop, 2nd Round (60th overall), Buffalo
Jonah Elliss, 3rd Round (76th overall), Denver
Sione Vaki, 4th Round (132nd overall), Detroit
 

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