When Alijah Vera-Tucker declared for the draft the first time, he hadn’t played left tackle since high school. His NFL future seemed assured on the interior, where’d remained for three seasons, starting for one.
But then, in October, the Pac-12 decided to play a COVID-altered season and Vera-Tucker returned for it. USC, desperate to replace departing first-round pick Austin Jackson, decided to move Vera-Tucker, its top lineman, to left tackle.
The move might’ve been made out of necessity. But for Vera-Tucker, who excelled as USC’s left tackle, it seems to have solidified his place in the first round of this week’s NFL draft.