Auburn’s Bold Play to Steal 2026 Five-Star EDGE Tank Jones Away from Oregon Shocks Recruiting World
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- Auburn and Alabama are competing to recruit five-star EDGE rusher Tank Jones.
- Jones, who currently plays for St. Paul’s in Mobile, Alabama, is committed to Oregon.
- Jones had a strong junior season, recording 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks.
- While Alabama was in Jones’ top three before his Oregon commitment, Auburn’s coaching staff has a history of recruiting success against Alabama.
Jones committed to Oregon on July 31, but in the world of recruiting nothing is final until the letter of intent is signed. Teams will attempt to make a big push for Jones in an attempt to flip the pass rusher. It would appear that Alabama may have an edge over Auburn for Jones. Before he made his commitment to the Ducks, Jones had announced his top three that included Alabama and Texas A&M. That is not to say Auburn cannot win over Jones though. Hugh Freeze and staff have shown they can beat Alabama in recruiting during their short time at Auburn.Jones is ranked by Rivals as a five-star, and a high four-star by 247Sports. He attends St. Paul’s in Mobile, Alabama where he is looking to have a big senior season for the Saints. They went 9-3 last season with their season ending with a 44-6 loss to Pike Road in the AHSAA 6A State Playoffs. Jones led a defense that only allowed 12 points per game and had three shutouts. For Jones, he had 84 tackles with 18 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. He is a multi-sport athlete playing basketball and running track.When it comes to the storied rivalry between Auburn and Alabama, the battle extends well beyond the Iron Bowl’s roars and fervor every November. This competition seeps deeply into the recruiting trenches, where every prospect represents a potential game-changer. Right now, all eyes are on Tank Jones, a dynamic five-star EDGE rusher hailing from St. Paul’s in Mobile, Alabama. Though he’s already pledged his future to Oregon, the tug-of-war between these SEC powerhouses is heating up—both programs eager to sway the talented pass rusher before ink hits paper. Jones’s junior year was nothing short of spectacular: 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks paint the picture of a relentless defender ready to dominate at the next level. While Alabama had long been in the running, Auburn’s coaching staff, under Hugh Freeze’s confident guidance, is no stranger to flipping commitments and outmaneuvering rival programs when it counts the most. The drama unfolding here isn’t just about a single player—it’s about the ongoing quest for supremacy in college football’s fiercest recruiting battleground. LEARN MORE
The rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide does not end with the annual Iron Bowl each November. The fans keep the fire of the rivalry going, but the two compete elsewhere as well.
The two programs are constantly battling for recruits to enhance their rosters. According to Rivals on Friday, both Auburn and Alabama are attempting to flip 2026 EDGE rusher Tank Jones.
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