Alijah Vera-Tucker

Alijah Vera-Tucker
No. 75 – New York Jets
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1999-06-17) June 17, 1999 (age 25)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:308 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland)
College:USC (2017–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / round: 1 / pick: 14
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2024
Games played:35
Games started:35
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

Early life

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 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench 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 s 1.77 s 2.95 s 4.63 s 7.70 s 32.0 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.[15]

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.[16]

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 Achilles injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2023.[17]

On April 30, 2024, the Jets picked up the fifth-year option on Vera-Tucker's contract.[18]

References

  1. ^ Hopkins, Justin (August 6, 2016). "Vera-Tucker Commits to USC". 247Sports. 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. 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. ^ "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  16. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 25, 2022). "Jets Place RB Breece Hall and OL Alijah Vera-Tucker on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 11, 2023). "Jets Sign WR Irvin Charles to Active Roster, Place Alijah Vera-Tucker on IR". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  18. ^ Pullano, John (April 30, 2024). "Jets Pick Up Fifth-Year Option on OL Alijah Vera-Tucker". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.