2021 NFL Draft: Offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker has special upside

Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell stands out as the best offensive lineman in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Sewell has massive upside as a blindside protector at the next level and he should not fall out of the first five picks when April rolls around. That being said, he is not the only top-tier offensive lineman out of the Pac-12 this year, as USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker will undoubtedly catch the attention of many NFL scouts.

Vera-Tucker took over as a full-time starter at USC as a redshirt sophomore in 2019. He started 13 games at left guard that season, quickly becoming an extremely important part of their offensive attack. Vera-Tucker was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection by the media for his play in 2019 and a second-team selection by the coaches.

This past season, Vera-Tucker made the move to left tackle and immediately looked like he belonged. Vera-Tucker continued to dominate up front for USC, shining all season long at the left tackle position for the Trojans. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection by both the media and the coaches for his play in 2020.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Vera-Tucker will now take his talents to the next level and will be one of the most interesting offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

Rare athleticism up front

When digging into Vera-Tucker’s game, the first thing that stands out is his ability to move. Vera-Tucker fires off of the ball quickly and moves extremely well in space. He is a balanced and smooth athlete who reaches the second level with ease and can be used as a weapon in the screen game.

His easy athleticism is obvious on every snap. Vera-Tucker is smooth and under control when he is getting into his pass sets and has the quickness needed to control speed rushers on the edge. His lateral mobility is incredibly impressive and he also does a fantastic job of maintaining his balance throughout the play.

Vera-Tucker also shows above-average power at the point of attack. He is not a mauler by any means, but he is a tough and physical player who can move defenders off of their spot at the line of scrimmage. He has powerful hands, impressive grip strength and does a great job of maintaining proper pad level through contact.

If only a few tough yards are needed, Vera-Tucker will explode off of the ball in an instant and move the defensive lineman out of the way. His athleticism stands out as his most impressive trait, but do not sleep on Vera-Tucker’s natural power.

Simply put, Vera-Tucker is an extremely smart and smooth offensive line prospect who undoubtedly has massive upside at the next level. He is probably best suited as an offensive guard in the NFL but he proved himself at left tackle this season. If a team wants to bring him in and give him a shot to grow into a premier left tackle, Vera-Tucker has the skill-set needed to make that a wise move.

No matter how you look at it, Vera-Tucker is an impressive 2021 NFL Draft prospect who should undoubtedly be in the top-15 conversation.