The Oregon Ducks landed a major addition to their 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of five-star EDGE rusher Anthony “Tank” Jones. He becomes the fifth five-star prospect to pledge to Oregon in that cycle.
Meanwhile, Rivals reports that both Alabama and Auburn are making strong efforts to flip the top-ranked player in Alabama.
What Jones Said About Oregon
Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, Jones is a standout dual-sport athlete at St. Paul’s Episcopal High School. The five-star EDGE prospect notched an impressive 84 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, and 16 sacks during his junior season. After committing to the Oregon Ducks, Jones shared his excitement with Pat McAfee, praising the program and head coach Dan Lanning.
“It’s an amazing fit for me. It’s unique, it’s different, and even though it’s far from home, it’s a place where I can grow as a person and as a man. I believe they’ll prepare me for life,” Jones told McAfee.
According to On3, Alabama and Auburn are making efforts to flip the state’s top-ranked recruit, with both schools planning to host Jones for game-day visits this fall.
New Intel Suggests Auburn Could Join The Mix For Jones’ Commitment
Oregon secured Jones’ commitment despite the significant distance of 2,654 miles from his hometown of Mobile, Alabama. Adding complexity to his decision, Jones grew up as a devoted Crimson Tide fan, frequently attending Alabama games during his childhood. Recent reports indicate that Auburn is also vying for Jones, planning to host him for a game-day visit this fall. Notably, Jones’ final three schools were Alabama, Oregon, and Texas A&M, with Auburn not making the cut.
Jones De-Committing From Ducks Would Follow Troubling Pattern
If Jones were to back out from Oregon, it would significantly impact the Ducks’ No. 3 recruiting ranking for the 2026 class. This would also continue a troubling trend for Oregon this summer. In April, five-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene, ranked No. 4 among offensive tackles in the 2026 cycle, switched his commitment from Oregon to Washington.
Five-star EDGE rusher Richard Wesley created a buzz on social media by celebrating his commitment to Oregon with a pool jump alongside coach Lanning. However, just 17 days later, Wesley de-committed and ultimately chose the Texas Longhorns.
If Jones takes game-day visits to Auburn or Alabama, it might merely be a procedural step for the five-star recruit. Can Lanning and the Ducks keep Jones committed?
Source: SI.com
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