Remember the Alabama Crimson Tide were one of several programs vying for a commitment from 2026 five-star edge rusher Anthony Jones.
Jones, 6-foot-3/240 lbs from Mobile, AL, is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 3 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 2 player in the state of Alabama. He’s also rated as the No. 15 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class.
Auburn, Miami, Texas A&M, and Oregon are also in the mix for Jones.
The talented five-star recruit is currently in the midst of taking official visits. And the timing of those official visits is a big advantage for Alabama in this recruiting battle.
According to On3’s Chad Simmons, Alabama will get Jones’ final official visit on June 20.
Getting the final official visit is almost always viewed as a big advantage. That’s the visit that’s fresh in a recruit’s mind before making a decision. The team that gets the final official visit doesn’t always end up winning the recruiting battle, but it’s certainly preferable to be the program that gets the final official visit.
Alabama should probably be viewed as the favorite for Jones anyway. That’s because Jones recently described Bama as his dream school.
“Alabama was always my dream school too and I love how it is close to home,” said Jones to On3.
Jones is hoping to announce his decision before his senior season of high school football gets underway, so the Crimson Tide shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to see if they win this battle.