Texas A&M’s future edge rotation could feature one of the elite pass rushers in the 2026 cycle, as five-star Anthony “Tank” Jones is reportedly close to making a decision, which he revealed during his recent interview with On3/Rivals reporter Hayes Fawcett on Thursday. Already known to the public, Jones is set to choose between Alabama, Oregon, and Texas A&M, all of which have hosted him for official visits this summer.
Jones is an Alabama native, and right now, the Crimson Tide, who have been equally hot on the recruiting trail, remain the slight leaders, but no one is counting out the Oregon or the Aggies who have equal momentum, while coach Mike Elko and defensive line coaches Tony Jerod-Eddie and Sean Spencer have recruited Jones the hardest from the very start.
During the interview, Jones discussed how all three programs stick out, ranking Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oregon in that order. While he certainly had plenty of praise for the Tide, Jones continued to point out that the Aggies have pushed the hardest since offering him during the early stages of his football career, while defensive coordinator Jay Bateman
“The position coaches are a big reason why Texas A&M is so high on my list and the way Coach Bateman uses the big end position.”
This season, senior edge Cashius Howell will be the player to watch for Jones if he makes another visit to College Station during the 2025 campaign, as Mike Elko is now calling plays, while he and Bateman’s scheme is based around aggressive coverage in the secondary, and a pass rush that also values stopping the run.
During his 2024 junior season wth St. Paul’s Episcopal, Jones recorded 84 tackles, 16 sacks, and 18 tackles for loss. According to Rivals, Jones is the 23rd-ranked prospect in the cycle, the 2nd-ranked prospect in Alabama, and the 2nd-ranked Edge prospect.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 2026 5-star Edge is reportedly close to announcing his commitment
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
