Utes in the Pros: Hall of Fame Game kicks off Thursday

Former Utah receiver Tim Patrick begins his second season with the Detroit Lions in 2025.

Photo by: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Utes in the Pros: Hall of Fame Game kicks off Thursday

7/31/2025 12:00 PM | Football

Former Utah standouts Tim Patrick and Sione Vaki set to rep Detroit

SALT LAKE CITY – A little more than a month separates us from the NFL's 2025 regular season, but Thursday night will bring a sign of things to come as the Detroit Lions face off with the LA Chargers in Canton, Ohio, for the annual Hall of Fame Game. Fans can tune into NBC at 6 p.m. MT for live coverage from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Two Utah Football alumni are on the Lions roster in wide receiver Tim Patrick and running back Sione Vaki. Patrick enters his eighth NFL season with Vaki about to begin year No. 2. Teams throughout the league began preseason training camp in mid-July with 29 Pro Utes on current team rosters.

Preseason play begins on August 7 with the regular season scheduled to kick off on Sept. 4. Clubs have until August 26 to reduce rosters to 53 players.

Patrick played at Utah during the 2014-16 seasons, appearing in 22 games with 14 starts. The San Diego native tallied 61 receptions for 888 yards and five touchdowns with the Utes; he was the team's leading receiver in 2016 with top marks in receptions (45), yards (711) and touchdowns (five). He was limited during the 2022 and '23 professional seasons due to injury, but returned to action in 2024 with 16 regular season games played, 33 receptions for 394 yards and three scores.

Another California native out of Antioch, Vaki spent 2022 and '23 at Utah after returning from a church mission. He saw action at safety during his first collegiate season, but enjoyed a breakout year in 2023 when Vaki made 12 starts at safety in addition to lining up at running back during seven games. The all-America selection had a particularly memorable performance that year against California, not only making five tackles but also going off for 158 rushing years and two touchdowns. In an instant classic at USC, he racked up 149 receiving yards highlighted by a 53-yard touchdown. Vaki was drafted by the Lions as a running back, logging six carries and three catches during his rookie season in 2024. He also made eight special teams tackles, a team-best.

Vaki learned a lot during rookie season that will help in Year 2 https://t.co/7mB0ISNk5N
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) January 27, 2025

The notion of "Pro Utes" carries over to the coaching ranks once again in 2025. Brian Johnson, the winningest quarterback in Utah history, begins his second season with Washington as the Commanders' assistant head coach and offensive pass game coordinator. Out in Kansas City, Alex Whittingham is entering year eight with the Chiefs and now holds the title of assistant defensive line coach.

UTES IN THE NFL (29)
Updated 7.31.25

Offensive Line (4)
Jackson Barton......................... Cleveland
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Braeden Daniels............................. Miami
Sataoa Laumea............................... Seattle

Running Backs (1)
Sione Vaki.................................... Detroit

Wide Receivers (4)
Britain Covey............................ LA Rams
Tim Patrick................................... Detroit
Dorian Singer........................ Jacksonville
Devaughn Vele............................. Denver

Tight Ends (3)
Cole Fotheringham.............. New England
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Caleb Lohner................................ Denver

Defensive Line (2)
Leki Fotu.................................. Las Vegas
Junior Tafuna.............................. Houston

Linebackers (7)
Cody Barton............................. Tennessee
Mohamoud Diabate................... Cleveland
Jonah Elliss.................................. Denver
Devin Lloyd.......................... Jacksonville
Connor O'Toole............................. Seattle
Karene Reid.................................. Denver
Nephi Sewell........................ New Orleans

Defensive Backs (7)
Miles Battle......................... New England
Cole Bishop................................. Buffalo
Julian Blackmon................... New Orleans
Terrell Burgess..................... New Orleans
Jaylon Johnson............................ Chicago
Clark Phillips III............................ Atlanta
Zemaiah Vaughn...................... Minnesota

Special Teams (1)
Matt Gay (K)......................... Washington

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