Devaughn Vele
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Devaughn Vele
| currentteam = Denver Broncos
| number = 17
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|12}}
| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 210
| high_school = Rancho Bernardo {{nowrap|(San Diego, California)}}
| college = Utah (2019–2023)
| highlights =
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 235
| pastteams =
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 41
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 475
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 3
}}
Devaughn Vele ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ɛ|l|eɪ}} {{Respell|VEH|-|lay|||}};{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th-3uq1Y0bg |title=WR DeVaughn Vele of Rancho Bernardo High San Diego, CA |date=2015-11-18 |last=Cityballers.com |access-date=2024-11-23 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=2024-08-31 |title=Broncos name pronunciation guide for 2024 NFL season |url=https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/31/denver-broncos-name-pronunciation-guide-2024-nfl-season/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Broncos Wire|publisher=USA Today}} born December 12, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes.
Early life
Vele attended Rancho Bernardo High School and led the team to their first State Championship title in 2015. Coming out of high school, Vele served a two-year LDS mission. Upon returning, Vele decided to walk-on to play college football for the Utah Utes.{{Cite web |last=Bodkin |first=Michelle |date=April 21, 2022 |title=From Walk-On To WR1: Devaughn Vele Ready To Shine For Utah |url=https://kslsports.com/484659/from-walk-on-to-wr1-devaughn-vele-ready-to-shine-for-utah/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=KSL Sports}}{{Cite web |last=Markham |first=Alex |date=December 3, 2023 |title=Utah WR Vele Declares for 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://utah.rivals.com/news/utah-wr-vele-declares-for-2024-nfl-draft |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=Rivals.com}}
College career
During the 2019 season, Vele used the season to redshirt.{{Cite web |last=Bagley |first=Cole |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Utes on the rise: Wide Receiver Devaughn Vele |url=https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/utes-on-the-rise-wide-receiver-devaughn-vele |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated}} During the 2020 season, he played in five games making two catches for 12 yards.{{Cite web |last=Furlong |first=Josh |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Utes' Devaughn Vele may be the best local receiver you've never heard of |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50218958/utes-devaughn-vele-may-be-the-best-local-receiver-youve-never-heard-of |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=KSL News}} Heading into the 2021 season, Vele earned a scholarship from Utah.{{Cite web |last=Furlong |first=Josh |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Receiver Devaughn Vele returns to Utah for another season |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50539825/receiver-devaughn-vele-returns-to-utah-for-another-season |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=KSL News}} In week six of the 2021 season, he pulled down a 37-yard touchdown reception, helping the Utes take down USC.{{cite web |last1=Swensen |first1=Jason |title=How trusting God allows Utah receiver and returned missionary Devaughn Vele to find success on the gridiron, and beyond |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/11/18/23217829/devaughn-vele-utah-football-missionary-samoa-utes |website=Church News |date=November 18, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2024}} In the 2021 season, Vele had a breakout year bringing in 23 receptions for 389 yards and a touchdown.{{cite web |last1=Call |first1=Jeff |title=Onetime walk-on Devaughn Vele is now battling to be Utah’s No. 1 wide receiver |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/4/19/23032164/utah-utes-football-receiver-devaughn-vele-could-be-utes-top-receivers-solomon-enis-pac-12 |website=Deseret News |date=April 19, 2022 |access-date=February 17, 2024}} In the 2022 season, he tallied 50 receptions for 595 yards and five touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Bagley |first=Cole |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Devaughn Vele WILL return to Utah for the 2023 season |url=https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/breaking-devaughn-vele-will-return-to-utah-for-the-2023-season |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated}} After the conclusion of the 2022 season, Vele originally planned to head to the NFL, however he decided to return to Utah for the 2023 season.{{Cite web |last=Bagley |first=Cole |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Devaughn Vele plans to leave Utah and pursue NFL in offseason |url=https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/devaughn-vele-plans-to-leave-utah-and-pursue-nfl-in-offseason |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated}}{{Cite web |last=Bodkin |first=Michelle |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Devaughn Vele Will Play One More Season With The Utes |url=https://kslsports.com/497363/devaughn-vele-will-play-one-more-season-with-the-utes/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=KSL Sports}} In week ten of the 2023 season, Vele notched seven receptions for 80 yards in a loss to the Oregon Ducks.{{cite web |last1=Walden |first1=Eric |title=Utah football’s best wide receiver is starting to gain momentum when the Utes need it most |url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2023/11/09/utah-footballs-best-wide-receiver/ |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=November 9, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2024}} In week eleven, in a blowout win over Arizona State, Vele hauled in seven receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns.{{cite web |last1=Coles |first1=Joe |title=‘Big Play Vele’: Utah receiver Devaughn Vele making the most out of his increased touches |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/15/23959495/utah-wide-receiver-devaughn-vele-increased-catches |website=Deseret News |date=November 15, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2024}} In the 2023 season, Vele notched a total of 43 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Dana |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Utes receiver DeVaughn Vele declares for NFL Draft |url=https://www.abc4.com/sports/devaughn-vele-declares-for-nfl-draft/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=ABC4 Utah}} After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Vele decided to declare for the 2024 NFL draft.{{cite web |last1=Coles |first1=Joe |title=Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele declares for the NFL draft |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/12/3/23987000/utah-utes-wide-receiver-devaughn-vele-declares-for-the-nfl-draft |website=Deseret News |date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Bodkin |first=Michelle |date=December 3, 2023 |title=Utah Receiver Devaughn Vele Declares For 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://kslsports.com/508208/utah-receiver-devaughn-vele-declares-for-2024-nfl-draft/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=KSL Sports}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4
| weight = 203
| dash = 4.47
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.60
| shuttle = 4.33
| cone drill = 7.02
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 6
| bench = 11
| arm span = 33 1/2
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/devaughn-vele/32005645-4c17-5757-4807-8639d5d53004 |title=Devaughn Vele Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 14, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1030026&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Devaughn Vele College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 14, 2024}}
}}
Vele was drafted in the seventh round with the 235th overall pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Borba |first=Kevin |date=April 28, 2024 |title=Utah Utes WR Devaughn Vele Selected With No. 235 Overall Pick by Denver Broncos |url=https://www.si.com/college/utah/utah-utes-wr-devaughn-vele-selected-with-no-235-overall-pick-by-denver-broncos |access-date=July 5, 2024 |work=Sports Illustrated}} In his NFL debut, he had eight receptions for 39 yards in a 26–20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.{{cite web | last=Weir | first=Susanna | title=Mile High Morning: OLB Jonathon Cooper, WR Devaughn Vele among Broncos with promising Week 1 performances vs. Seattle | website=Denver Broncos | date=2024-09-09 | url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/mile-high-morning-olb-jonathon-cooper-wr-devaughn-vele-among-broncos-with-promising-week-1-performances-vs-seattle | access-date=2024-09-14}}
Vele caught his first career touchdown in Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-10 |title=WR Devaughn Vele catches first career touchdown pass {{!}} Broncos at Chiefs |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/video/wr-devaughn-vele-catches-first-career-touchdown-pass-broncos-at-chiefs |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Denver Broncos |language=}} He finished his rookie season with 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Devaughn Vele 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VeleDe00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Vele was raised by a single mother, Afagaila, and later adopted by his now father, Efaraima.{{Citation |title=1:2 4th & 17 - The Devaughn Vele Podcast |date=2022-06-07 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IpqWU5isKZHrygts62x1b |access-date=2024-09-23 |language=en}} Vele is of Samoan descent.{{Cite web |last=Swensen |first=Jason |date=2021-11-18 |title=How trusting God allows Utah receiver and returned missionary Devaughn Vele to find success on the gridiron, and beyond |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/11/18/23217829/devaughn-vele-utah-football-missionary-samoa-utes/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Church News |language=en}} He is married to Tymane Vele.{{cite web | last=Bartle | first=Steve | title=BREAKING: Utah receiver Devaughn Vele has declared for the NFL Draft | website=247Sports | date=2023-12-04 | url=https://247sports.com/college/utah/article/utah-receiver-devaughn-vele-has-declared-for-the-nfl-draft-221765460/ | access-date=2024-09-14}}
Vele is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission in Samoa.{{cite web |last1=Toone |first1=Trent |date=29 Apr 2024 |title=2 Latter-day Saint returned missionaries selected in NFL draft |website=thechurchnews.com |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2024/04/29/nfl-draft-sione-vaki-safety-devaughn-vele-receiver-utah-utes/ |access-date=12 Oct 2024 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=41097|espn=4569559|nfl=devaughn-vele}}
- [https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster/devaughn-vele/13916 Utah Utes bio]
- [https://www.denverbroncos.com/team/players-roster/devaughn-vele/ Denver Broncos bio]
{{Denver Broncos roster navbox}}
{{Broncos2024DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vele, Devaughn}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Rancho Bernardo High School alumni
Category:Utah Utes football players
Category:Players of American football from San Diego
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football
Category:American people of Samoan descent
Category:American sportspeople of Samoan descent