ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos rookie turning the most heads this summer isn't first-round draft pick Bo Nix but receiver DeVaughn Vele, a seventh-rounder from the University of Utah whose recent one-handed catch has been the highlight of training camp.

Vele isn't your typical rookie — he'll turn 27 in December — so the 235th overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft is in a hurry to make his mark as a pro.

“I feel like I got a little chip on my shoulder that I have to be better because I don’t have the luxury of developing and being that guy that’s like, ‘Oh, in a few year’s he’ll be good,'" Vele said Wednesday. "I feel like I have to contribute as much as I can now."

Vele has wasted no time in standing out in a crowded receiving room that features holdovers Courtland Sutton, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Marvin Mims Jr. and Brandon Johnson along with free agent Josh Reynolds, fourth-round draft pick Tony Franklin and veteran Tim Patrick, who is coming back from consecutive season-ending leg injuries.

Vele’s path to the NFL was a long one.

He didn’t go to college until after serving a two-year Mormon mission in Samoa. Then, he redshirted his first year at Utah and his 2020 season was interrupted by the pandemic. Finally, he started 38 games for the Utes over the last three seasons, totaling 123 catches for 1,677 yards and nine touchdowns.

Although he has great size for a wide receiver at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, his age dropped him to the seventh round of the draft in April. Consider this: Vele and Denver defensive end Zach Allen, who's going into his sixth NFL season, are the same age.

“He's certainly come in here and acted not like a rookie, he's acted closer to his age,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “He's done a great job for us. He's stepped up in a lot of ways and he's making plays all over the field and we're very, very excited for him.”

Coach Sean Payton suggested Vele's maturity is now an advantage.

“He's smart. He's a little older. I would say you don't necessarily feel (like he's) a rookie. And I say that because, respectfully, he's a little older than most in his class," Payton said.

“I like his transition (in and out of breaks) and his body control for someone who's 6-4. Now, he's low-cut and that helps him. Leggy receivers have a little bit more challenge, but he's a little bit more torso built and that allows him to transition a little better.”

Vele's summer has shattered any preconceived notions about who'll be catching passes from Nix or Jarrett Stidham this season.

The depth and competition at wide receiver is “more than I can recall anywhere," Payton said. "We potentially have guys that may end up playing for another team.”

Vele won't get away.

His work ethic makes him a coach's dream. He plays with a veteran's savvy and his highlight catches are becoming routine. The most spectacular one was his right-handed grab against safety P.J. Locke of Stidham's overthrown pass last week.

Vele hasn't gotten caught up in the hoopla over that remarkable reception.

“I actually don't have social media, so I'm not really paying attention to it as much,” he said. “I'm just trying to make sure that I do what I can to help the team out."

Diamondbacks extend winning streak to 6, beat Rockies 11-4 as Eugenio Suárez hits grand slam

PHOENIX (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a grand slam and finished with five RBIs, Joc Pederson drove in two early runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks won their sixth straight game by beating the Colorado Rockies 11-4 on Wednesday.

Arizona swept the three-game series and has won 18 of 21, rocketing into postseason contention with its longest winning streak since last August. Following a 6-1 homestand, the NL champions go on a nine-game trip to Tampa Bay, Miami and Boston.

“It's awesome,” Suarez said. “It's very fun to come here, compete, and every time you come into the clubhouse you feel that good energy, good vibes. You want to be a part of that.”

Suárez had three hits, driving the first pitch he saw from Riley Pint into the left-center seats for a 10-3 lead in the sixth and his fourth career slam. Suárez said he had some added motivation after Pederson and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. were hit by pitches earlier in the inning.

“He made that mistake with a slider and I was ready to put it in play,” Suárez said.

Arizona took a 4-0 lead in the first, partly thanks to shoddy Rockies defense, and dropped Colorado to an NL-worst 17-46 on the road.

Pederson's double down the right-field line scored Corbin Carroll and Jake McCarthy for the first two runs. Pederson came all the way around the bases to score after first baseman Michael Toglia took the cut-off throw and tried to get Pederson out at second but instead sailed an errant throw all the way to the left-center warning track.

Josh Bell reached on catcher's interference by Jacob Stallings, Gurriel Jr. singled and Suárez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Geraldo Perdomo forced in a run with a walk.

“We came in offensively, had a couple quality at-bats and took advantage of a misplay on their part and it really set the tone for the day,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

Colorado, which has lost eight of 11, committed three errors and hit four batters.

“Obviously, they outplayed us and we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “That's the way you look at it. We didn't play a very clean game.”

Arizona stretched its lead to 6-1 after five innings, but Colorado rallied with two runs in the sixth. Lefty Jordan Montgomery wiggled out of the inning without further damage, getting Sam Hilliard to strike out with runners on first and second.

Montgomery (8-6) gave up three runs, five hits and three walks over six innings, striking out a season-high eight. The veteran's fastball was slightly faster than usual, sitting around 92-93 mph.

“I've been putting some good work in, starting to feel confident throwing the ball, knowing its going to go where it needs to go,” Montgomery said. “Using my whole body instead of just my arm.”

Tanner Gordon (0-4) got just two outs and allowed four runs, three hits and two walks.

ROSTER MOVES

Diamondbacks: Recalled INF Blaze Alexander from Reno and optioned OF Alek Thomas to the Triple-A farm team. Thomas began the season as the starting center fielder, but missed substantial time with a hamstring injury. He's hitting just .191 with three homers and 17 RBIs this season. The D-backs needed an extra infielder with 2B Ketel Marte nursing a sprained ankle.

UP NEXT

Rockies: Return home for a three-game series against San Diego starting Friday. Colorado will start RHP Cal Quantrill (7-8, 4.56 ERA) while San Diego will counter with RHP Matt Waldron (7-9, 4.00 ERA) in the first game.

Diamondbacks: At Tampa Bay for a three-game series starting Friday, when the Rays start RHP Ryan Pepiot (6-5, 3.92).

Boise State, UNLV favored in Mountain West, which has Pac-12's Oregon St, Washington St on schedule

For all that has changed in college athletics, Boise State being favored in the Mountain West remains a remarkable constant.

The Broncos were picked for the 17th consecutive year to win a conference or division title, including all 14 years they have been in the Mountain West.

Boise State's Spencer Danielson, like most coaches, didn't want to put much stock into the media prediction, and he has history as his best argument. As then-interim coach, Danielson led the Broncos to the Mountain West championship last season, but that was the program's first conference title since 2019.

“There’s a lot of great excitement and buzz and our players deserve that, but we’ve got to continue to earn it every single day," Danielson said.

UNLV is expected to be Boise State's biggest challenger. The Rebels are coming off their first bowl trip in a decade, which led to Barry Odom being named conference coach of the year in his first season.

He takes a different approach from Danielson when it comes to preseason polls. He said his goal is to be at the top of any such conference list, be it the preseason poll or recruiting rankings.

“It’s great for our program and some validation on the things that we’re doing,” Odom said. "But when you look at preseason polls, last year we were ninth. I’m so glad that we got to play the games because we were able to earn what we got. This year, I’m going to use being preseason No. 2 as great motivation for our team.”

QB positions up for grabs

Boise State and UNLV have one notable thing in common — both have quarterback competitions.

At Boise State, the position is between two sophomores, Maddux Madsen and Southern California transfer Malachi Nelson.

Madsen is trying to make up for lost time after missing spring practices with a knee injury. Nelson was the nation's top 2023 recruit, according to ESPN, but sat behind future No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Caleb Williams at USC.

“Everything going’s to be graded," Danielson said. "Everything’s going to be analyzed. It’s going to be very black and white, and whatever quarterback gives us the best opportunity to win games will be the starter.”

Three quarterbacks, including two transfers, are vying for the job at UNLV. Holy Cross transfer Matthew Sluka and Hajj-Malik Williams from Campbell were brought in to compete for the spot. Cameron Friel, the 2021 Mountain West freshman of the year, also is in the mix.

White returns to Rebels

Senior wide receiver Ricky White, who began his college career at Michigan State, had the chance to transfer back to a power conference after a breakout season. He decided to return to UNLV to try to help the Rebels build on last year's success.

“I'm very excited," White said. "We have a special team, a special coaching staff behind us. We're going to do big things this year.”

White had a school-record 1,483 yards in receiving last season and tied the program record with 88 catches.

“I'm sure excited about Ricky White," Odom said. "At the end of the year with he and his family, he decided to stay. He was so mature on his approach with his family on the things that he wanted to accomplish he knows he can get done here. He's going to have another monster season.”

Late change at Fresno State

Health concerns forced Jeff Tedford, who went 44-22 and won two Mountain West titles in his five seasons at Fresno State, to again walk away from his alma mater. Tim Skipper, the linebackers and assistant head coach, is the interim coach.

A heart issue caused Tedford to leave the Bulldogs after the 2019 season, but he returned three years later. He also did not coach in last season's New Mexico Bowl. Tedford's career record is 127-79, which includes winning a school-record 82 games at California from 2002-12.

“Coach has got to take care of his health,” Skipper said. “He'll come around when he can. Always a phone call away, but health is always first. He's got to take care of that. Whatever he can do, he'll do.”

The Bulldogs were picked third in the Mountain West.

Playing the Pac-2

Oregon State and Washington State, the two remaining members of the Pac-12, will each play eight games against Mountain West schools that won't count in the league standings.

Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said the Mountain West is in discussions about continuing that relationship next year and said she would like to have the matter decided before this season begins.

Time, of course, is getting tight.

“I think they've really added up a pump to our football strength of schedule,” Nevarez said.