NFL Scouting Report: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC))

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Bio

Pos: OT/OG

Hometown: Oakland, CA

School: Southern California

Class: Redshirt Junior

DOB: 6/17/1999 (21)

Ht: 6’4″ (17/57%) | Wt: 308 lbs (34/40%)

Hands: N/A | Arms: 32.13” (3/11%)

Bench: 36 reps (98/96%) | 40-YD: 5.10s (73/77%)

Interesting Facts

Only 1 sack, 8 total pressures allowed over 1,065 career snaps at OG
Started a full season each at LG (2019) and LT (2020)
Morris Trophy, 1st-Team All-Pac 12 at LT (2020)
2nd-Team All-Pac 12 at LG (2019)
Played O-Line and Defensive End in High School

Physical Tools

Pros

Solid 5.10s 40-YD, 7.65 3-cone (66/65th %tile)
32″ vertical (87th/90th), 106″ broad (60th/69th)
Terrific upper-body & hand strength (36 reps — 98th/96th)
Agile lower-half — 4.61s shuttle (76/74th)
4-star recruit, 14th-ranked OT in 2017

Cons

Short arms regardless of position (32.13″)
Relatively undersized (6’4″, 308 lbs)
Adequate, but not a great athlete

Grade: A-

Game Film

Pros

Agile in space and throws his weight around
Consistently displays mobility, power, and tenacity
Terrific spatial awareness and instincts
Powerful hands rarely allow for an easy shed
Play-to-play consistency is impressive
Finishes blocks with authority
Constantly works for quality body positioning
Always keeps his feet driving to wear down defenders

Cons

Struggled vs. speedy EDGE’s (Kayvon Thibodeaux, Pac 12 CG)
Lost his balance on a few occasions
Guilty of some slow pass sets while at LT

Grade: A

Production

Pros

Morris Trophy winner, 1st-Team All-Pac 12 (2020)
2nd-Team All-Pac 12, 9th-rated OG in 2019 (78.8 PFF grade)
Continued improvement even after kicking out to LT (78.8 to 81.8)
Just 1 sack, 8 total pressures allowed at G (2018-19)
1.6% career pressure rate (16 on 975 pass-blocking snaps)
Terrific 87.9 pass blocking, 80.5 true pass set PFF grades
926 career snaps at LG, 476 at LT, 139 at RG

Cons

Allowed 4 sacks, 8 total pressures in lone season at LT
Average run-block, zone grades in 2020 (76.7, 77.9)
Gap assignments weren’t his strength at LT (70.7)
Never recorded an elite grading profile

Grade: A-

Risk

Pros

Ideal power and movement skills for the interior
Outstanding interior pass-blocker (1 sack allowed at OG)
Tenacious and powerful, especially in the run game
Great instincts and high football IQ
Versatile and experienced all across the OL (RG, LG, LT)
Top-tier OG prospect with an ability to kick outside
Poor reps are few and far between
Year-over-year improvement continued even at LT

Cons

Not an overwhelmingly athletic prospect
May lack the length (32.13″) and foot speed to remain at LT
Doesn’t come with the elite production like some of his peers

Grade: A-

Overall

Not too dissimilar a prospect from Rashawn Slater, Alijah Vera-Tucker is a tad undersized as well at 6’4″, 308 pounds. A bit of a lesser athlete, however, the former Trojan also has shorter arms (32.13″) than the former Wildcat (33″), which each fall in the 3rd and 13th percentile among OTs/OGs, respectively. Yet, like Slater, he more than makes up for it with power, mobility, body control, and a great feel for the game.

A tenacious run-blocker with outstanding awareness and positioning, Alijah is always churning his legs and blocking through the whistle. In addition to sealing off defenders and burying others 10 yards downfield, he’s also proven to be one of the most consistent pass protectors on both the interior and out on the edge.

Kicking out to LT after growing into a stellar LG, he remained incredibly steady and put very few “bad” reps on tape until facing Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux — a legit pass-rushing talent that’ll be playing on Sundays soon enough. Even then, Alijah still “won” many of their matchups, but his lack of length was clearly a hindrance.

Should the Oakland, CA native return to OG, like some have suggested, there’s little doubt he can make an early impact. Having taken 1,065 snaps at LG and RG and grading out as the ninth best in 2019, he has a proven, high floor on the interior. While AVT should get a shot at OT, his well-rounded abilities as an interior protector are quite valuable even without that experience at LT.

Pro Comp: OG Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys)

Projected Round: Mid-1st Round

Prime Destinations: NYG, LAC, MIN, ARZ, LV, WAS, MIA, CHI, IND, PIT, JAX

OVERALL Grade: A-