Pride of Detroit
Sione Vaki became one of the league’s best special teamers as a rookie, but how close is he to seeing the field on offense?
Whenever Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell or general manager Brad Holmes are asked for their evaluation of a player or what traits they look for in a specific position, they will both inevitably bring up that they’re looking for “football players.” For the Lions, that means a player who loves and respects the game, is willing to put the team first, will grind out each and every assignment, and possesses the intangible traits that will make the team better.
As we head toward training camp, running back Sione Vaki enters his second year as one of the best “football players” on the Lions roster.
Previous previews: Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Aidan Hutchinson, Brodric Martin, Jake Bates
At Utah, Vaki earned a starting safety role as a redshirt freshman, then expanded his contributions to offense as a redshirt sophomore, continuing to start in the secondary and taking on a running back role for the final six games of the season. When he attended the NFL Combine, he participated with the safety group but also took part in running back drills, demonstrating his positional versatility. While Vaki plays with a safety's attacking mentality, his natural skill set on offense is so appealing that, despite his limited experience, the Lions drafted him to play running back in the NFL.
Offense
On offense, Vaki entered his rookie season very raw. With just 56 offensive touches in college—along with slot receiver experience in high school—Vaki knew he had a lot of work to do before he would see the field as a running back.
“Coach (Scottie) Montgomery tells me all the time that I just need a thousand reps of it,” Vaki told Pride of Detroit during 2024 training camp. “Looking at it on paper versus actually going through it are two different things—or even seeing it on film. So, I’m just taking it rep-by-rep and just getting better every rep, (especially) on the finer details.”
During the pre-season, Vaki gained confidence through experience, and his on-field production improved with each game played. While his first NFL touches (against the Giants in the preseason) showed off his rushing instincts, Vaki showcased his hands the following week against the Chiefs, securing four receptions for 60 yards (hello, Texas route) during a two-minute drill. His offensive talent is clearly appealing, but Vaki acknowledged that at this stage of his development, he still had a lot of fundamental coaching to absorb.
“It’s still really early. I’m still young in the process,” Vaki told Pride of Detroit during the preseason. “Definitely, not close to 1,000 (reps) at all. But these preseason games, and especially joint practices, helped a lot. It’s just great to go against another team with other talent, and then in the game itself, being able to apply what you’ve been coached to do—you’ve really...
