Alijah Vera-Tucker

Solomon Alijah Lewis Vera-Tucker (born June 17, 1999) is an American football guard for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC, where he was awarded the Morris Trophy in 2020 and was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection. Vera-Tucker was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Alijah Vera-Tucker
No. 75 – New York Jets
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1999-06-17) June 17, 1999
Oakland, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:308 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:Bishop O'Dowd High School (Oakland)
College:USC (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Games played:23
Games started:23
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early and high school

Vera-Tucker grew up in Oakland, California and attended Bishop O'Dowd High School.[1] He played offensive tackle and defensive end on the football team and was named an Under Armour All-American as a senior.[2] Vera-Tucker was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at USC over offers from Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, California, UCLA and Washington State.[3]

College career

Vera-Tucker redshirted his true freshman season.[4] Vera-Tucker played in all 12 of the Trojans games as a reserve guard and on special teams during his redshirt freshman season.[5][6] He was named first-team All-Pac-12 Conference by the Associated Press. Vera-Tucker considered entering the 2020 NFL Draft, but opted to return to USC for his redshirt junior season.[7] Following the announcement that Pac-12 would postpone the 2020 season, Vera-Tucker announced that he would opt out of the season in order to focus on preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.[8] Vera-Tucker reversed his decision to opt out after the Pac-12 announced that they would resume fall football.[9]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in
(1.94 m)		 308 lb
(140 kg)		 32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		5.10 s1.77 s2.95 s4.63 s7.70 s32.0 in
(0.81 m)		8 ft 10 in
(2.69 m)		32 reps
All values from Pro Day[10][11][12]

Vera-Tucker was selected by the New York Jets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Jets on July 20, 2021, worth $15.88 million.[14] He was named the Jets starting left guard, and started 16 games there, and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Vera-Tucker was named the Jets starting right guard in 2022 after the team signed left guard Laken Tomlinson. He started at left tackle in Week 4 after an injury to George Fant, then moved to right tackle in Week 5 after an injury to Max Mitchell, and started the next three games. He suffered a torn triceps in Week 7 and was placed on injured reserve on October 25, 2022.[15]

Vera-Tucker returned as the Jets starting right guard in 2023. He moved to right tackle in Week 3 due to injuries. He suffered an Achille injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2023.[16]

References
  1. Hopkins, Justin (August 6, 2016). "Vera-Tucker Commits to USC". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  2. "Under Armour All-American Alijah Vera-Tucker goes from audience to honoree". USA Today. September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  3. Polacek, Scott (August 5, 2016). "Alijah Vera-Tucker to USC: Trojans Land 4-Star OT Prospect". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  4. Kaufman, Joey (November 12, 2018). "Redshirt freshman Alijah Vera-Tucker earning role as 'sixth man'". Orange County Register. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  5. Eure, Keely (August 22, 2018). "OL Alijah Vera-Tucker has become USC's "sixth man"". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  6. Kartje, Ryan (August 1, 2019). "USC's talent could spark revival in critical year for Clay Helton". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  7. Kartje, Ryan (January 18, 2020). "USC left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to return". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  8. "USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker opts out to prepare for NFL draft". Associated Press. September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  9. Bonagura, Kyle (October 6, 2020). "USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker opts back in to 2020 season". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  10. "Alijah Vera-Tucker Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  11. "Alijah Vera-Tucker, Southern California, OG, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  12. "Alijah Vera-Tucker 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  13. Lange, Randy (April 29, 2021). "Jets Trade Up to No. 14 Overall, Pick Southern Cal OL Alijah Vera-Tucker". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  14. Levine, Ben (July 20, 2021). "Jets Sign First-Round OL Alijah Vera-Tucker". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  15. Greenberg, Ethan (October 25, 2022). "Jets Place RB Breece Hall and OL Alijah Vera-Tucker on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  16. Greenberg, Ethan (October 11, 2023). "Jets Sign WR Irvin Charles to Active Roster, Place Alijah Vera-Tucker on IR". NewYorkJets.com.
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