Devaughn Vele Will Play One More Season With The Utes
Jan 9, 2023, 11:05 AM
Devaughn Vele #17 of the Utah Utes celebrates teammate Solomon Ennis's touchdown against the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half of their game September 17, 2022 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele announced he will play one more season with the Utes in 2023. His announcement comes on the heels of Thomas Yassmin and Brant Kuithe’s reveals of a final return to Utah football as well.
POV: you see another year of Utah Football in your future 👀
Devaughn Vele is coming back for the 2023 season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ipCqmV7dC5
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 9, 2023
Between the Utes’ 2023 Signing Class and the current talent on the roster that has decided to come back and play for one more season, Utah football looks to be in pretty good shape once more in a stacked Pac-12 Conference.
Devaughn Vele’s Utah Football Stats
Standing at 6’5″ and 205 lbs., Vele was a bit of a secret steal for the Utes who originally got him as a walk-on in 2019. Vele has since earned a scholarship and immense respect on the team as a leader and sound-bite machine. Injuries have slowed Vele’s progress during his time at Utah, but the last two seasons have seen him starting to come into his playmaking ability.
In 2021, Vele showed flashes for the Utes in their first Pac-12 Title season. The wide receiver finished the year with 23 targets for 389 yards and one touchdown while averaging 16.9 yards per play.
In 2022, Vele improved on those numbers while becoming more of a focal point in the offense- especially after player makers like Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid had to sit out with injuries. Vele ended this past season with 55 receptions for 695 yards and five touchdowns.
Heading into the 2023 season Vele will hopefully continue his upward trajectory by showing he can take over games more consistently. This will be particularly important while Utah (most likely) breaks in a new quarterback due to Cam Rising’s injury at during the Rose Bowl against Penn State. Having veteran players like Vele, Kuithe and Yassmin in the mix could be the difference for the Utes continuing to set the pace for the Pac-12 or going into more a of a “rebuild” period.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
