Alijah Vera-Tucker to USC: Trojans Land 4-Star OT Prospect

The USC Trojans added some size and talent to its future offensive line on Friday in the form of offensive tackle prospect Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Vera-Tucker announced his decision on Twitter: 

"

Proud to be a Trojan!!✌️❤️ pic.twitter.com/9magNearn7

— Alijah Vera-Tucker (@yung_lijh) August 6, 2016"

The 6’4” and 291-pound Vera-Tucker is a 4-star recruit, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, 

Being that he is from California, Vera-Tucker generated plenty of interest from the Pac-12 during his recruiting cycle. Programs such as Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, California, UCLA and Washington State were all on 247Sports’ college list for Vera-Tucker, as of Monday, April 18.

Ultimately, he chose to join head coach Clay Helton's Trojans, as the team looks to restore the program to its former glory. USC heads into the season ranked No. 17 in the Amway Coaches Poll and has a chance to make another run at the Pac-12 South. 

Vera-Tucker caught the eye of Michigan from the Big Ten, and Steve Lorenz of 247Sports suggested not to overlook the Wolverines in spite of the large number of Pac-12 schools that were interested: “Michigan could very well be a contender in this race. Tackle is a huge need in 2017, and the staff has had their eye on Vera-Tucker for over a year.”

It is no surprise Vera-Tucker was such a highly coveted prospect. His overall athleticism really stands out, especially at the tackle position, which will help his lateral movement as he looks to protect the quarterback at the next level. He is also physical enough to bulldoze his way through defensive linemen and create holes for the rushing attack.

Hudl.com shared some highlights from Vera-Tucker’s junior campaign in 2015:

Scout.com pointed out Vera-Tucker has only played football for a couple of seasons and has room to continue growing into a superstar. Considering he is already such a highly regarded prospect after limited time in the sport, Vera-Tucker can ascend into an All-American type of tackle as he adds even more strength and technique to his game at the college level.

If he fulfills that potential, he will likely become one of the most important recruits for USC in the entire 2017 class.