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SALT LAKE CITY — Days before he broke out on the scene on the offensive side of the ball, safety Sione Vaki was visibly taken aback when asked a question from a member of the media about whether he'd be interested to play on offense.
His stunned, yet inquisitive look was almost as if someone spilled company secrets, and he was unsure what the individual knew that asked him the question as he laughed nervously. The question itself was innocent and more just a look into the safety's life and his perspective on a struggling offense coming off the team's bye week.
The question, however, turned out to be a fateful coincidence given what Vaki did on the field four days later against a California team that was taken by surprise.
As a two-way player Saturday, Vaki was an occasional receiver and running back, and he even played the role of a quarterback in Wildcat packages en route to rushing for 158 yards, including a 72-yard run for a score, and two touchdowns on 15 carries — all while still contributing on a defense that held California to 254 total yards and only 66 rushing yards.
It was the Sione Vaki breakout game on offense, and one that had longtime Utah fans reminiscing the days of Eric Weddle — the two-way former Utah star who went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, won a Super Bowl in 2022, and was considered one of the best at his position in the league during his time.
Did Utah find its next Eric Weddle?
"It was fun," a humble Vaki said after the game Saturday. "I was just glad the coaches and the players trust me enough to come in for some plays. It was fun. ... I'm just here to help the team. Whatever the coaches need, I'm here for it."
Utah certainly needed the help.
For an offense that ranked near the bottom of the FBS, Vaki was a welcomed surprise and someone that Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham called a "spark" for Utah's offense Saturday. That may be putting it lightly.
Vaki was an explosive surprise that put California on figurative skates as they attempted to tackle him. His field vision, shiftiness, and quick bursts of speed were enough to lead Utah's offense Saturday in a get-right game after a road loss to Oregon State two weeks prior.
Though Vaki played regularly on offense in high school at Liberty High in Antioch, California, his role was set with a Utah defense that leads the Pac-12 and ranks second in the country in rushing defense and ninth in total defense. And he was exceptional there, too.
"Sione has a great offensive background," Whittingham said. "He was a really good offensive player in high school — slot receiver and also carried the ball a little bit — so it wasn't a big learning curve there. He's one of the most explosive players on the team, quickness, speed wise as well. Plus he's 210 pounds; he's got the body for it as being able to handle it, the physicality, and so that was what went into the decision."
Ahead of the 2023 season, Vaki was included in Bruce Feldman's "Freak List" for the upcoming season, but even Feldman couldn't predict the offensive explosion that was waiting to be unleashed by the sophomore safety.
"Vaki already can bench press 400 pounds, squats 520 and vertical jumps 39 inches," Feldman wrote. "He did 10-5 1/2 in the broad jump. His teammates could tell he was a Freak almost from the moment he arrived there, they say."
Add two-way player to the list.
Whittingham said Saturday that Vaki will continue to be a central figure to Utah's offense moving forward, similar to how the Utes previously handled Weddle and former running back Matt Asiata — the "Asiata package," as Whittingham called it.
"That's what it is patterned after," Whittingham said about Vaki's role. "So it's not something that we've never done before. And he is the perfect guy for that role going forward, and you'll continue to see it."
Though there will be a limit to how much Vaki is used on offense — the individual game will dictate how much, Whittingham said — it isn't something the coaching staff is shying away from as the season enters the second, and arguably toughest, half of play. Vaki was held to about 15 offensive plays against California, but Whittingham said "that package will continue to expand."
For his part, Vaki is just happy to contribute in whatever capacity he's needed — on offense and defense. And if Saturday was an indication as to what Vaki can bring to the offense, it's difficult to keep him away.
"Man, whatever helps the team, really," Vaki said Tuesday before his breakout game. "If they need me on offense, then — I like defense, but wherever the coaches, where my teammates think they can use me, I'm gonna help them."
With several players on the offensive side of the ball lost to season-ending injuries or still waiting to return to action — Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe — the emergence of Vaki is a welcomed addition.
"It helps a lot, just taking some of the load off of some of us, but he's taking on a lot more load because he playing both sides," running back Ja'Quinden Jackson said Saturday. "It's a big help. I'm glad he's actually doing his thing and helped us come out with a win."
