5-star EDGE out of Mobile has Bama in high standing following return visit
Only six prospects in the Class of 2026 can say they’re regarded as consensus top-15 overall players in the country by all four recruiting rankings services. Anthony “Tank” Jones out of St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, Alabama — whose nickname is warranted — is one of them.
So, when he steps foot on a college campus, it’s a visit that draws a lot of attention.
Jones was back at Alabama on Sunday for the second time this summer. He previously camped at the school on May 30, which raised his interest in the new-look Crimson Tide. And, in a conversation with BamaOnLine, Jones says he came away impressed by his second visit to Bama of the Kalen DeBoer era.
“It went good,” Jones said. “We did a little scavenger hunt and hung out with the players. The families were dancing and stuff. It was cool. It was genuine. I talked with a lot of coaches and a lot of recruits. We were playing video games. It was cool.”
With communication opening up in mid-June, Jones says he’s on the phone with Alabama’s Christian Robinson every week. The two have developed a good relationship that goes beyond football, with Jones saying they’ve recently talked about the new college football video game a lot.
Most of his Champion Cookout experience on Sunday was spent around Robinson.
“I was with C-Rob most of the day. He’s probably my favorite coach that I’m being recruited by, too,” Jones said. “We were just with each other all day. He’s very genuine. Everything he talks about is about me. He just wants me and my family to be in a good place. He wants to coach me. He’s just very genuine.”
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Bama is recruiting Jones (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) as a ‘Wolf’ prospect. Robinson is his primary recruiter, with defensive coordinator Kane Wommack — who has connections in the Mobile area — also chipping in.
“It’s cool,” Jones said of his relationship with Wommack. “I’ve been knowing him for a while, so we already had a little connection. We’ve both been in Mobile for a while, so it’s been cool. I feel like I’d fit well in [his defense]. I’d just do my job, and he’d probably get me to the next level.”
Jones also had a conversation with DeBoer before departing from Alabama.
“He was really just talking about how he appreciates me being there,” Jones said of his conversation with DeBoer. “I could’ve been any other place, but I chose to be at Bama. He was talking about my family and things like that. [My parents] love Bama. They feel like it’s very genuine. They could see themselves leaving me there for college.”
Alabama battling with fellow in-state program for Tank Jones
Switching over to his time with the players and fellow recruits, Jones was around 2025 ‘Wolf’ commit Dawson Merritt for a good portion of the day. The two talked about how Merritt’s father, Dave Merritt, coaches for the Kansas City Chiefs, with Jones adding that he beat Merritt by three points in the new EA Sports College Football game.
The No. 1 incoming junior in the state of Alabama was also around a trio of players on Sunday — Jalen Milroe, Qua Russaw, and Quandarrius Robinson.
“We were really just talking about how we played each other in high school,” Jones said of his time with Russaw. “We talked about recruiting, too. Talked about how not to rush it and to take your time. You can’t listen to what everybody else is saying; just take your time.
Anthony Jones, the top-ranked 2026 prospect in the state of Alabama.
“It went well,” Jones added of his time with the players. “I love being there, too.”
Jones’ visit to Alabama followed a trip to Auburn the day before for their end-of-July event. He’s visited the two programs roughly the same number of times in his recruitment.
Both schools are high in the mix, and Jones envisions both of them factoring into his recruitment until the very end.
“I feel like they’re probably both the same right now. They’re in the top three,” Jones said of Alabama and Auburn. “They’re both close to home. It’s in-state. I could just see myself playing there, and my family being close to them, also.”
During the fall, Jones currently only has one visit planned: Texas A&M for their season opener against Notre Dame on Aug. 31. He’s also eyeing a return to Tuscaloosa for their highly anticipated matchup with Georgia on Sept. 28.
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