There’s a bit of déjà vu happening in Eugene - and no, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The Oregon Ducks already signed a five-star edge rusher named Anthony “Tank” Jones as part of their 2026 recruiting class. But now, they’re in the final stretch of recruiting another Anthony Jones - and while this one doesn’t carry a national five-star label, he’s still very much a name to watch.
This Anthony Jones hails from Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, California, and comes in as a three-star prospect on the 247Sports composite. He’s ranked as the No. 53 defensive lineman nationally and sits just inside the top 500 overall. While that might not jump off the page like a top-10 ranking, his recruitment has been anything but quiet.
Originally committed to UCLA, Jones saw his path take a turn when the Bruins parted ways with head coach DeShaun Foster. He briefly recommitted to the program, but didn’t sign during the early period in December and ultimately decided to move on from the new coaching staff. That decision reopened his recruitment - and Oregon was quick to re-enter the picture.
Jones has since taken official visits to both Oregon and Wisconsin, and now he’s down to those two programs. His commitment is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, and both schools are in the hunt to land a late-cycle difference-maker on the defensive front.
So what’s Oregon’s pitch? According to Jones himself, it’s about more than just facilities - though the Ducks certainly have those in spades. After his third visit to Eugene, Jones spoke about what makes the program stand out.
“I think what stands out about Oregon is the incredible amount of resources on and off the field they have there to be successful,” he said. “The players and coaches have a great bond and you can see the relationships there are genuine.”
That bond extends to defensive line coach Tony Tuioti, who has a long-standing relationship with Jones. That familiarity could prove crucial down the stretch.
“Coach Tui is a great coach and someone I’ve known for a long time,” Jones added. “He sees the potential in me and said he wants to be able to show that and develop me and put that on full display.”
Should Jones choose Oregon, he’d be joining a defensive line class that’s shaping up to be one of the strongest in the country. The headliner, of course, is five-star Tank Jones - yes, the other Anthony Jones - but the Ducks have also secured commitments from four-star linemen Tony Cumberland and Prince Tavizon, as well as three-star edge rusher Dutch Horisk.
That’s a deep, versatile group. Adding another Jones to the mix would give Oregon even more flexibility up front and continue their trend of stacking talent in the trenches.
We’ll find out soon enough where Jones lands. But if Oregon pulls this off, don’t be surprised if the Ducks’ defensive front becomes one of the most talked-about units in the 2026 cycle - and not just because two of its anchors share the same name.