Utah safety Sione Vaki is a dynamic two-way player in the 2024 NFL Draft. Vaki accumulated 51 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, for the Utes this past season. Vaki also took snaps at running back, totaling 520 yards of offense and five touchdowns. Vaki displayed rare athleticism at the NFL Combine with a 39.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-5 broad jump.
Vaki was an outstanding performer at Utah’s Pro Day as well. Vaki ran offensive, defensive, and special teams drills. Vaki impressed the abundance of scouts in attendance by proving he could legitimately play in every phase.
Vaki recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his performance at the NFL Combine, which teams are showing interest in his services, which position scouts see him playing at the next level, and more.
JM: I thought you put forth a solid performance at the NFL Combine. You showcased great lower-body explosion with a 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad. Have you received good feedback from teams since then?
Sione Vaki: Yeah, I have. The phone calls are starting to become more frequent (laughs). I’ve definitely been busy throughout the process. I’m doing a lot of interviews, sitting down with a bunch of NFL teams.
JM: You were a dynamic two-way player at Utah, totaling 51 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss at safety this past season. You also added 520 yards of offense and five touchdowns as a running back. That's incredibly difficult. What is it about your approach and preparation that allowed you to thrive on both sides?
Sione Vaki: First and foremost, the coaching staff believed in my ability to play both sides of the ball. That played a huge role immediately. When it came to preparation, that same staff did an excellent job making sure I had enough time to rest my body in between periods.
I was in constant contact with coaches on both sides. I’d meet with both offensive and defensive coaching assistants. We’d go over some tape from our last game and identify areas of improvement for me.
We’d go over the install. Every coach on staff preached the smallest details. We knew everything about our upcoming opponents. It was super helpful to playing both sides. I was always well prepared.
I stayed true to myself at the end of the day. I went out there and played my game.
JM: You've made it clear that you prefer to continue playing safety at the next level, but some teams requested you to go through running back position drills at the combine. What's the consensus feedback you're hearing about your position?
Sione Vaki: It’s tough to say. I haven’t taken a tally or anything like that. It may be split down the middle. My initial feeling is that there are more teams that like me at running back actually. A lot of teams can see me playing on the offensive side of the ball.
I’ve expressed comfort with that, but I’ve also been honest. Picking off a quarterback, scoring a pick-six touchdown, those things bring more joy to me than scoring a touchdown as a running back. I love playing safety.
I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win at the end of the day. I pride myself on availability and reliability. I’ll make sure I’m available for whatever the coaching staff needs me to do.
JM: I didn’t expect you to say that more teams are showing interest at running back.
Sione Vaki: That’s the vibe I’m getting. The feedback I’m getting, I’d say I’m getting just a little bit more love on the offensive side. Plenty of teams love me at safety as well though. I’ve heard both.
JM: What's your favorite aspect of playing the safety position?
Sione Vaki: I would say the physicality that comes with it. I love getting down and dirty in the trenches, especially in the run game. I love playing man-to-man coverage as well. A lot of defenders my size can’t play man coverage.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think I’m a box safety. That’s not the case with me. I can cover tight ends and slot receivers in man coverage. I can take on blocks and shed them as well.
I like seeing myself as a fast and physical defender that can play man coverage.
JM: Have you completed any Top 30 visits or virtual meetings as of late?
Sione Vaki: I have Top 30 visits with the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers coming up. I’m working through the rest of my schedule. I’m supposed to take a few more visits. I know I have some private workouts as well. I’ve recently spoken with the Seahawks, Bills, and Giants recently as well. The Patriots, Bengals, and Saints met with me at Pro Day as well.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We've appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Sione Vaki going to make at the next level?
Sione Vaki: Hopefully I’m going to make a huge impact (laughs). I bring a lot of versatility and athleticism to the next level. I’m going to help coaches a lot because they can implement me on certain packages on both sides of the ball.
I’m not a sub-package player. I never have to come off the field. I feel like I’m a perfect fit for offense and defense. I create mismatches on both sides.