Sione Vaki S Utah | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Sione Vaki S Utah
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.62 seconds (30%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age: 23.4 DOB: 07/30/2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |
Draft Year: 2024 | |
40 time: 4.62 seconds (30%*) | |
Age: 23.4 DOB: 07/30/2001 | |
Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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Overall Rating: | 80.1 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
Offense Rating: |
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77% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 86.0 | |
Tackling: |
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73% |
Run Defense: |
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63% |
Coverage: |
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73% |
Zone: |
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67% |
Man/Press: |
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77% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#176
Position rank:
#37
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College Games: 22 College Snaps: 944 | ||
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Drafted: ROUND: 4 - Pick Number: 132 (DET)
Draft Profile: Bio
Sione Vaki, playing alongside Najee Harris at Antioch High School before transferring to Liberty High School in Brentwood, California, Vaki excelled as a dual-threat athlete. His high school career peaked as he led Liberty to its first state championship, earning the NorCal Player of the Year title with impressive stats: 70 receptions for 1,394 yards and 20 touchdowns, complemented by stout defensive play that included 97 tackles and four interceptions.After high school, Vaki dedicated two years to a religious mission in Tonga and Salt Lake City, which delayed his entry into college football until 2022. Once at Utah, Vaki quickly made up for lost time. In just his second season, he racked up 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks, securing a spot on the First Team All-Pac-12 and earning Second Team All-American honors. His adaptability was on full display in 2023 when he filled in as a running back due to team injuries, adding 520 total offensive yards and five touchdowns to his defensive accolades.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super versitile, effectively playing from the slot to the deep field and at linebacker depth.
- He demonstrates physical toughness, willing to engage physically and doesn’t shy away from contact.
- His play recognition is sharp, quickly diagnosing plays and efficiently communicating shifts.
- As a tackler, Vaki is deliberate, ensuring precise strikes and consistent wrap-ups.
- He exhibits strong leadership qualities, serving as a team captain and inspiring teammates with his dedication.
- Vaki’s hands are capable of delivering powerful strikes to disrupt blockers and secure tackles.
- His agility allows him to cover ground quickly, despite lacking elite speed.
- His experience as a running back showcases his multi-role ability - will be viewed as a nice bonus special teamer
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks the ideal arm length and size, which can limit his effectiveness in pass coverage.
- While he is aggressive, his eagerness sometimes leads to overrunning plays and missing tackles.
- Struggles with man-to-man coverage against faster and more agile receivers.
- His backpedal can be sluggish, reducing his efficiency in gaining depth in coverage.
- Has difficulties shedding blocks, particularly from tight ends, which affects his containment on the edge.
- Runs the risk of being viewed as a 'Jack of all trades - but master of none', due to him being viewed as both RB and safety
Scouting Report: Summary
Sione Vaki presents an intriguing case as a hybrid athlete capable of filling roles on both defense and special teams. His tape shows a player with strong downhill aggressiveness and an ability to disrupt the run game effectively from the box. Vaki's physicality and motor are assets in the box, where he leverages his tackling skills to contain plays close to the line of scrimmage. His versatility shines in short-yardage situations and when executing blitz packages, demonstrating the kind of situational awareness that makes a difference on third downs.However, Vaki's dual role at Utah as both a safety and a running back might raise concerns for NFL teams looking for specialized skill sets. His lack of elite cover skills, coupled with his limited range in deep field assignments, poses potential liabilities in pass-heavy matchups. The transition to the pro level demands refined technique in phase coverage and hip fluidity—areas where Vaki has shown limitations. His aggressive pursuit often leads to missed angles on tackles, which could be magnified against the superior athleticism found in NFL offenses.
Overall, while Vaki's skill set provides a robust foundation for a role primarily focused on special teams and specific defensive packages, teams will need to weigh his versatility against the necessity for more polished coverage skills in their defensive schemes. His ability to contribute immediately on special teams and his potential as a situational player in the box may make him a valuable late-round pick.
Sione Vaki percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Sione Vaki (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
196.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
49.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.