Utah wideout Devaughn Vele is leaving for the NFL.

The fifth-year junior officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft on Sunday. He had one final season of eligibility to potentially use with the Utes, but will forgo that in order to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.

“To the fans, coaches, and especially my teammates, thank you for making my Utah college experience so memorable and giving me a chance to play this amazing sport,” he wrote on social media. “You helped me become not only a better football player, but also a better man.”

The 6-foot-5 Vele began his Utah career as a walk-on in 2019. His first two seasons with the program, he appeared in nine games and recorded only two receptions.

In 2021, Vele produced 23 catches for 389 yards and a score.

Over the last two seasons, he’s been a more reliable producer in the pass game. This fall, with uncertainty and instability at the quarterback position seemingly every week, Vele was a steady hand.

He had seven catches for 80 yards against Oregon and that kicked off a string of four straight impressive performances. He caught two touchdown passes against Arizona State the following week, then posted back-to-back 100-yard days against Washington (five for 145) and Arizona (nine for 111).

Vele finished the season with 43 receptions for 593 yards and three scores.