Sione Vaki

Sione Vaki (born July 30, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes as a two-way player. Vaki was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life Vaki attended Liberty High School in Brentwood, California. In high school, he played on both sides of the ball. On offense he rushed for 401 yards and seven touchdowns, while also bringing in 107 receptions for 2,203 yards and 32 touchdowns. On defense, he notched 142 tackles with one being for a loss, five interceptions, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns, Vaki also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Vaki committed to play college football at the University of Utah.

College career In his true freshman season, Vaki totalled 41 tackles with 3.5 going for a loss, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble in the 2022 season.

In week one of the 2023 season, he recorded his first career interception versus the Florida Gators. In week seven, Vaki had a breakout game where he played both ways of the ball as he rushed 15 times for 158 yards and two touchdown to help the Utes beat California. In the following week, he rushed nine times for 68 yards, while also hauling in five receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns, while also notching two tackles and having the best coverage grade on the Utes, as helped them upset USC 34–32. The rest of the season, the Utes formulated a plan to use Vaki more on offense.

As a sophomore, Vaki finished the season with 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions on defense. On offense he had 317 yards rushing (7.5 yards per carry) and two rushing touchdowns. As well as 11 receptions for 203 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was voted to the first-team All-Pac-12 team twice in 2023, both as a safety and a special teams/all-purpose player. Following the 2023 season, Vaki declared for the 2024 NFL draft after playing two seasons of college football, as he went on a three-year mission trip following his high school graduation.

Professional career

Vaki was selected in the fourth round, 132nd overall, by the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL draft. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

NFL career statistics

Offense Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost 2024 DET 16 0 6 14 2.3 7 0 3 37 12.3 17 0 0 0 2025 DET 11 0 1 4 4.0 4 0 — — — — — 0 0 Career 27 0 7 18 2.6 7 0 3 37 12.3 17 0 0 0

Defense / special teams Year Team Tackles Returning Fumbles Comb Solo Ast Sack Ret Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD 2024 DET 8 8 0 0.0 2 55 27.5 36 0 1 0 0 0 2025 DET 10 6 4 0.0 2 39 19.5 29 0 0 0 0 0 Career 18 14 4 0.0 4 94 23.5 36 0 1 0 0 0

Personal life Vaki lost his mother Oto’ota due to cancer. Vaki is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; he started to serve a mission for the church in the Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Mission, but was reassigned to the West Salt Lake City, Utah, Mission due to the COVID-19 pandemic.