Convincing Alabama’s top-ranked player to choose a school other than the Crimson Tide is no easy feat in college football recruiting. But Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks seem poised to do just that — for the second consecutive year.
On Wednesday, 5-star edge rusher Anthony “Tank” Jones — currently ranked as the No. 18 overall player, No. 4 EDGE, and the No. 1 prospect in Alabama — announced that he will reveal his college decision live during Thursday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN. Following his announcement, the 247Sports Recruiting Staff logged a prediction favoring Oregon to secure his commitment.
If that holds true, it would mark the second straight year Oregon landed Alabama’s top prospect. In the 2025 cycle, the Ducks pulled in 5-star cornerback Na’eem Offord, who was also the state’s No. 1 player.
Oregon currently boasts the nation’s No. 11 recruiting class, featuring three 5-star talents: safety Jett Washington, offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho, and tight end Kendre Harrison. Should Jones commit to the Ducks, their class ranking would likely jump to No. 7 for the 2026 cycle.
In addition to Jones, Oregon is in a strong position to land two more blue-chip players soon: 4-star defensive lineman Deuce Geralds and 4-star cornerback Davon Benjamin, both of whom are set to announce their decisions on August 2 and are widely expected to choose the Ducks.
The Pat McAfee Show airs from noon to 3 p.m. ET, although the exact timing of Jones’ announcement during the broadcast has not yet been disclosed.