🟢 Oregon Ducks in Final Battle for 5-Star EDGE With Bama And A&M

The Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning aren’t done building their 2026 recruiting class. One of their top remaining targets is five-star EDGE prospect Anthony “Tank” Jones. The 6-foot-3 standout from Mobile, Alabama, has narrowed his options to three finalists: Alabama, Oregon, and Texas A&M.

Jones, a two-sport athlete at St. Paul’s Episcopal High School, is heading into his senior year and has made three visits to Eugene so far—highlighting serious interest in the Ducks.

Oregon already has one EDGE player committed in the 2026 class: Dutch Horisk, a three-star recruit from powerhouse St. John Bosco.

During his junior season, Anthony “Tank” Jones put up dominant numbers—racking up 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks. The explosive EDGE rusher is ranked No. 16 nationally in the 2026 class by 247Sports. If Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is able to land Jones, the Ducks would almost certainly climb into the top five of the national recruiting rankings for 2026. He’d become the third five-star prospect in Oregon’s class, joining elite offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho and standout safety Jett Washington.

The toughest obstacle in Oregon’s pursuit of Jones is the Alabama Crimson Tide. With Jones’ high school just four hours from Tuscaloosa, proximity gives Alabama a natural edge in this battle. He also made his final official visit to Alabama, giving head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff the last word in the recruitment process.

Jones, who grew up an Alabama fan, shared with On3 how meaningful it was to visit the program he admired as a kid watching from home.

Despite growing up an Alabama fan, five-star EDGE Anthony “Tank” Jones is giving serious thought to leaving home for a bigger challenge—and Oregon is firmly in the mix.

“It always feels great, just growing up being a ‘Bama fan, watching them on TV and just being able to be in there in person—it feels even better than seeing it on TV,” Jones told On3. “It’s a great vibe and atmosphere up there.”

But when it comes to the Ducks, Jones sees a different kind of opportunity—one that could push him to grow both on and off the field.

“Oregon is far from home, but I feel like that’s a great opportunity for me to grow and be uncomfortable—to grow through those situations,” Jones said. “The scheme they have for me is perfect. Seeing the EDGEs they’ve got out there eating… Coach Lanning and Coach Tosh [Lupoi] do a great job of simplifying things and letting the EDGEs go eat. I think I’d be a great fit there.”

Jones has yet to lock in an official commitment date but told On3 he plans to announce his decision sometime this month. The fact that Oregon is still battling for his pledge—despite Alabama being the hometown favorite—speaks volumes about the Ducks’ momentum under Dan Lanning.