Anthony Jones, the No. 19 prospect in the 2026 class, recently made his official visit to Oregon, from which he left with a lot of positivity.
The five-star edge rusher from Mobile, Alabama, visited Eugene for the third time last weekend, from June 13-15. After this visit, he is ready to place Oregon as a top program on his list, alongside Alabama, Auburn, Miami, and Texas A&M.
2026 EDGE Anthony Jones Says Oregon Visit Gave Him ‘Goosebumps’
Anthony Jones, a 6’3″, 235-pound force from St. Paul’s Episcopal, described the visit as extremely effective and positive. “This visit was great. I had goosebumps the whole time I was there,” he told On3.
5-star EDGE Anthony Jones took an official visit to Oregon over the weekend🦆
“I had goosebumps the whole time I was there,” he tells @ChadSimmons_
Read: https://t.co/QhT5R6CP4H pic.twitter.com/HwzIQLu8rV
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 16, 2025
The weekend included basketball at head coach Dan Lanning’s house, fishing, and quality time with his parents, who were charmed by Oregon’s campus. Lanning, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, and assistant Kamran Araghi made Jones feel like a priority.
With one final official visit to Alabama scheduled for June 20-22, Jones is nearing a decision.
“I am not sure when I will commit, but ideally, it will be before the season,” he said. Oregon’s blend of culture, coaching, and development potential has the Ducks in a strong position to pull the top Alabama prospect to the Pacific Northwest.
Jones’ on-field stats and skills back up his recruiting hype. As a junior in 2024, he racked up 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks, showing off incredible stamina and polished technique. His freshman year was equally dominant, with 130 tackles, 15 sacks, two interceptions, and three receiving touchdowns as a two-way player.
A three-sport athlete, Jones also excels in track and field, winning the Alabama 6A discus state title as a junior with a 161-5 toss and earning a shot put silver with a 58-4.5 throw.
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Evaluators praise his collegiate-ready frame and explosive lower-half strength, ideal for a 3-4 outside linebacker role. While not the most fluid edge rusher, Jones wins with power, quickness, and a skill for attacking leverage, which projects him as a high-floor defender with situational pass-rush upside.
Oregon’s 2026 class is already defense-heavy, with five of eight commits on that side. However, it would still gain a crown jewel if they manage to bag Jones, who’d outrank four-star defensive lineman Tony Cumberland as the class’s top defender.
Alabama, where Jones has visited nearly 10 times, remains a strong contender for his landing spot, with Auburn, Miami, and Texas A&M also in the mix. Lanning’s personal touch and Oregon’s vision of Jones as a transformative talent could sway him, but the pull of the SEC and proximity to home may play a big role in his final call.
