Oregon at Risk of Losing No. 1 Player in Alabama With $442K NIL Valuation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Oregon Ducks have been on a tear on the 2026 recruiting trail.
Dan Lanning and company have put together the No. 3 class in the country, headlined by four five-star recruits. That feat isn’t too surprising: The Ducks have routinely signed top five classes the past few seasons.
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Even though the Ducks hold commitments from some of the best recruits in the country, that doesn’t mean other programs aren’t trying to flip some members of the class. Rivals reported such a flip appears likely for five-star edge Anthony “Tank” Jones, a native of Alabama.
Jones is the No. 22 player and No. 4 edge nationally and the No. 1 player in the state, and both Alabama and Auburn are reportedly making strong pushes to keep him home.
“We are hearing that both in-state schools, Alabama and Auburn, will play the slow game and work to get him back on campus for games this fall,” read the report. “Both the Crimson Tide and the Tigers are giving Jones his space, but as the season progresses, we expect staffs from both SEC programs to be in Mobile working to flip him from the Ducks through Signing Day in December.”
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Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning.Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With the early signing period in December, the Crimson Tide and Tigers have ample time to convince Jones that there’s no reason to trek to the Pacific Northwest. They also will have time to sweeten their offers.
According to On3’s name, image and likeness licensing valuations estimates, Jones ranks 33rd in high school football with a $422,00 valuation. This past season for St. Paul’s Episcopal, Jones compiled 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
