Devaughn Vele, Broncos receiver out of Utah, rookie in name only

Faith became a verb, changing the trajectory of Devaughn Vele’s life.

Vele, the son of Afagaila and Efaraima, grew up as a gifted athlete, playing baseball, basketball, volleyball and running track. But he felt a gravitational pull from football. He developed into a star at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, posting 980 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior season.

Then his dreams became frozen. He received zero college offers. A shell-shocked Vele was left to consider his options when there were, well, no options.

“There were a lot of things going on in my life at that time. I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life especially when it came to football,” Vele told The Denver Post after Wednesday’s practice. “There was a lot of prayer. A lot of fasting.”

Wanting to connect deeper with this faith, Vele elected to go on a two-year mission for the LDS church. He served in his ancestral homeland of Samoa, learning the language, teaching and even baptizing a distant relative.

“It helped me find myself and mature as a person,” Vele said.

Watching Vele at Broncos training camp provides daily reminders of his life experience. He is a rookie in name only.

Remember that third-and-3 connection from Bo Nix to running back Jaleel McLaughlin in the third quarter against the Colts? Nix lofted a pass that hit McLaughlin in stride for a 22-yard gain. McLaughlin found space because Vele executed his lunch pail assignment. Lined up wide left, Vele shuffle stepped on the snap as the linebacker raced to take the angle in coverage on McLaughlin. Vele set a faux pick with his positioning, causing the linebacker to slip avoid it, leading to the easy completion.

“He is a real student of the game,” teammate Courtland Sutton said. “And he is humble.”

Vele turns 27 in December. He is a year older than Broncos backup quarterback Zach Wilson and a year younger than Lamar Jackson, who is entering his seventh NFL season as a two-time MVP.

Vele cannot escape the clock ticking on his career. But he refuses to compromise quality and skip steps. Functioning as a team leader in his fifth year at Utah, Vele developed into a top target despite chaos at the quarterback position with Cameron Rising sidelined.

“He was a tireless worker. A great character kid,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “There’s nothing not to like about him.”

When Vele returned from his mission, there was no interest from schools, only an opportunity to walk on at Utah. That status shaped the receiver he is today.

“I pride myself so much on the details. When I first got to Utah, I knew the thing that was going to separate me from guys on scholarship was being coachable. It is a very important thing so they can trust you,” Vele said. “So when they show how they want the route to be run, that’s how I am going to run it. Details are huge for me. I think that’s what has moved my career forward.”

The Broncos saw beyond Vele’s modest college stats, taking him in the seventh round. He has gone from invisible to viral this summer. Vele delivered a one-handed grab — easily the catch of camp — for a touchdown from Jarrett Stidham that offered shades of Odell Beckham Jr. with the New York Giants. It created a media buzz. Only Vele didn’t see it.

“I don’t have social media,” Vele said.

This fits in line with his process. He is all business. He doesn’t have time, you see, to savor one play when he has a team to make.

“It’s no secret that I am lot older. And that Father Time is undefeated. I don’t have the luxury of developing as a guy who will be better in a  few years,” Vele said. “I know a lot of people had a lot of issues with it when I was first drafted. I feel like it happened this way for a reason. And I am trying to take advantage of this opportunity to be on the team, special teams or on the practice squad. Whatever they need.”

Coach Sean Payton has praised Vele’s ability to transition out of breaks and show daily improvement.