DeVaughn Vele shares his what inspired him to serve a church mission and return to walk-on as an eventual football star at the University of Utah

Power Players with Dan Clark

In this episode, DeVaughn Vele shares his life and extraordinary family influences that inspired him to serve a church mission and return to walk-on as an eventual football star at the University of Utah.

This episode is sponsored by Siegfried & Jensen. Thank you for supporting Talkin' Utes and Utah athletes!

About DeVaughn Vele:

VELE QUICK HITS

36 career games with 18 starts at Utah.

2022 Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention.

Began his career as a walk-on in 2019 before being awarded a scholarship in 2020.

2022: Has appeared in 13 games while making 11 starts, ranking second on the team in receptions (50) and receiving yards (595) with five touchdowns along with 26 punt returns for 246 yards.

• Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention.
• Has caught at least three passes in nine of Utah’s 13 games.
• Recorded a career-high seven receptions for a career-best 94 yards and a touchdown against Oregon State.
• Had six catches for 87 yards and two punt returns for 23 yards at UCLA.
• Notched three catches for 38 yards and two touchdowns with a career-best five punt returns for 60 yards vs. San Diego State.
• Had five catches for 62 yards (1 TD), was one-for-one in passing for nine yards and had a career-long 23-yard punt return vs. USC.
• Six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown against Stanford.
• Also had a 21-yard punt return vs. Southern Utah.

2021: Saw action in all 14 games with seven starts, recording 23 receptions for 389 yards (16.9 ypc) and a touchdown.

• Career-high four receptions for a team-high 84 yards against USC, scoring his first touchdown as a Ute on a career-long 37-yard flea flicker reception.

• Recorded three receptions for 69 yards at Oregon State which included a career long 45-yard reception.

• Three catches for 57 yards against Arizona State (19.0 ypc).

• Caught three passes for 44 yards in Utah’s win over UCLA.

• Two receptions for 33 yards against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

• Had two special teams tackles.

2020: Played in all five games.

• Two receptions for 12 yards.

• One catch for nine yards against USC.

• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll.

• Awarded a scholarship.

2019: Walked on the team in the spring, redshirt saw action in four games, starting against Colorado.

• One special teams tackle.

High School: Played football and basketball at Rancho Bernardo HS.

• All-League.

• Invited to the 2016 Polynesian All-American Bowl and the 2016 Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic.

• 52 receptions for 980 yards (18.8 yards per catch) with 11 touchdowns as a senior, also completed his only pass attempt for a 45-yard touchdown and made two interceptions his senior season.

• 126 yards receiving, two touchdowns and an interception in the state title game.

• 11 catches for 209 yards (4 TD) his junior year.

• Rancho Bernardo won the 2015 CIF Division III-A state title, as well as regional and league titles.

• 2016 National Football Foundation San Diego Chapter Scholar-Leader-Athlete Award.

• 2015 first-team Cal-Hi Sports all-state all-academic and San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic team.

Personal: Son of Efaraima Jr. and Afagaila Vele … served an LDS church mission in Samoa … born in Indiana … name is pronounced deh-vawn veh-lay.

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