Alabama might be losing its charm for some high school prospects. That starry-eyed factor has lessened a bit with the new change of hands at the helm. As a result, Kalen DeBoer will likely be losing out on a star prospect of the 2026 class. He came close to landing him, since the player is an in-state target, making him more important for the Tide. However, an insider predicts that this one will not be a win for Kalen DeBoer.
5-star EDGE Anthony ‘Tank’ Jones is set to announce his commitment on The Pat McAfee Show on July 31. The main contenders vying for him are Oregon, Texas A&M, and Alabama. Kalen DeBoer and Co. should have been well in contention to be the winner here, since Jones is an Alabama native. However, it doesn’t seem like that will be happening anymore. The elite prospect will most likely be heading out of state for his collegiate career.
247Sports’ Tom Loy predicts that Alabama’s hold is slipping on Jones. He also had Miami and Auburn in contention, but they dropped out as well. What was looking like a 3-way battle can now really be just a 2-way fight. The Tide could jump up the ranks of the 2026 class if Jones picked Alabama, becoming the 6th 5-star recruit in their 2026 class.
On Thursday, Top247 edge Anthony “Tank” Jones will announce his commitment on The Pat McAfee Show.
He’s down to @AlabamaFTBL , @oregonfootball, and @AggieFootball.
Latest intel, as well as my best guess on where he lands…
VIP Story: https://t.co/oNsJJZ9DkX@247Sports pic.twitter.com/zbz7tMpMUJ
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) July 30, 2025
Alabama currently sits at the No. 6th best class in the 2026 cycle, which also includes the best in-state recruits. This should have resulted in Jones also being part of this trend, but it looks he will either go across the country to Oregon, to nearby Texas.
The post Kalen DeBoer’s 5-Star Target Won’t Pick Alabama On Thursday’s Pat McAfee Show – Insider Report appeared first on EssentiallySports.