Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks set to get their final shot at elite 5-star pass rusher from very untraditional recruiting area

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ryan Roberts | Last updated May 15, 2025 11:30 AM ET

When you talk about the elite recruits in the 2026 class, Mobile (Al.) St. Paul’s Episcopal defensive end Anthony Jones is typically on the short list of fantastic players around the country. The 6-3.5, 240-pound pass rusher currently ranks as a five-star player on the 247Sports Composite ranking, sitting as the No. 15 overall player, No. 3 EDGE, and No. 2 player in the state of Alabama for the 2026 recruiting class. He is an elite talent that can do a little bit of everything for a prospective defense.

With official visits right now the horizon, Jones is beginning to narrow his top schools list down. The Alabama native currently has five official visits set, including to the Oregon Ducks on June 13-15. Jones will also be checking out Auburn (May 16-18), Miami (May 30-June 1), Texas A&M (June 5-7), and Alabama (June 20-22). Beginning and ending in his home state is an interesting thing to note.

NEWS: Five-Star EDGE Anthony “Tank” Jones has locked in 5 Official Visits, he tells me for @on3recruits

His schedule is as follows:

Auburn: May 16-18
Miami: May 30-June 1
Texas A&M: June 5-7
Oregon: June 13-15
Alabama: June 20-22https://t.co/45pke68Imv pic.twitter.com/NhzVALdFYS
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 14, 2025

While the Ducks have recruited on an elite level under head coach Dan Lanning, the state of Alabama isn’t an area that they have had success in much. They were able to pull off an upset in the 2025 recruiting class when they flipped five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord from Ohio State. Other than Offord, Tulane transfer running back Makhi Hughes is the only player from Alabama.

As things stand today, Oregon is not viewed as the leader for Jones. Him staying in the state of Alabama with the Crimson Tide or Tigers feels like the most likely outcome today. Judging by the top contenders, however, clearly the NIL component is going to be huge. You can’t count out the Ducks until it is all over.

Jones is one of the rare athletes that can do a little bit of everything on the defensive side of the football. Despite playing mostly linebacker in high school, many project him to defensive end on the college level. He has been making plays for St. Paul’s Episcopal for years, and was dominant immediately as a freshman with 130 total tackles and 15 sacks.

Nicknamed “Tank”, Jones has been pursued by a long list of impressive programs. Other than the schools he is taking official visits to, some of his other top offers includes Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, and Ole Miss among many others.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: