Enis, Vele Staying Focused As Role In Utah Offense Grows
Sep 20, 2022, 11:24 AM
Solomon Enis #21 of the Utah Utes catches a pass against the Brigham Young Cougars in a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Wide receivers Solomon Enis and Devaughn Vele are determined to stay focused after a big outing last weekend against San Diego State. The Utes were determined to incorporate their wide receivers into the offense more heading into 2022, but the process has been slower than most thought three games in. However, both Enis and Vele showed their value as pass catchers, hauling in three of Utah’s five touchdowns last weekend. The key now for the veteran players is to keep being that threat week-in and week-out starting with Arizona State this weekend.
Players of the week ‼️ pic.twitter.com/QcLwRcWkZM
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 19, 2022
Continuing To Grow
Last weekend both Enis and Vele hauled in three receptions for 38 yards each. Enis recorded one touchdown while Vele had two. From Vele’s standpoint, the production against San Diego State was a reflection of the hard work he and Enis have been putting in to being more of a factor in Utah’s offense.
“It felt really good,” Vele said. “A lot of hard work put into it, a lot of long hours and just trusting the process and waiting for the opportunity. It felt really good. It felt good celebrating with the team and overall it’s just nice getting a win over San Diego State which we should have got last year, but it’s nice to get revenge on those guys.”
Enis is also happy with the results, but says it’s now time to get off to a faster start- perhaps the only true knock on the Utes’ offense as a whole so far in 2022. It all comes down to just being able to go with the flow.
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“Just preparing in that sense that we have to get going fast,” Enis said. “We don’t have that time and luxury to get things rolling the way we wanted to. Sometimes we’ve got to get going right away and I think that is the crucial thing we have to work on this week.”
It’s no secret that Utah’s tight ends are celebrated as the playmakers on offense. However, as a team, Vele says there is a general understanding amongst everyone that their opportunities and time to shine will come. When it’s not your particular time, it’s all about celebrating everyone else’s success.
“You never want to talk bad about your teammates, you just have to wait for your opportunity,” Vele said. “A lot of our guys are selfless guys so we don’t try to make it all about ourselves, it’s always about the team.”
This week, Utah will need a full team effort heading into Pac-12 play against an ASU team that has it’s back against the wall. Enis is confident the team will get it done because they view every week as if they are playing for a championship.
“I think we prepare week-in and week-out like we are playing in the championship again,” Enis said. “We don’t take our opponents lightly, so I think with ASU, they are a great team and we have got our hands full. We’ll take it day-by-day and hopefully get a W.”
