The Oregon Ducks have found exciting momentum with their recruiting class of 2026, landing big-time commitments from two five-stars in safety Jett Washington and offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho. The next target to watch for the Ducks to land is five-star edge rusher Anthony Jones.
Jones is one of the top prospects from the class of 2026 still uncommitted. Per the On3 Industry Rankings, he is the No. 20 recruit in the nation, the No. 3 edge rusher, and the No. 2 player from Alabama. Jones is expected to announce his decision in July and has narrowed down his top three schools to the Oregon Ducks, Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Texas A&M Aggies.
Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer during the game against the Mercer Bears at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images / Gary Cosby Jr- USA Today Network via Imagn Images
Alabama is the in-state team, and Jones has been a fan of the Crimson Tide since he was a kid. Alabama has also had recent success with recruiting, as coach Kalen Deboer is building a talented team. The Texas A&M Aggies have the No. 3 ranked recruiting class in the nation and have hosted Jones for several visits.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi are making a late push for Jones, and it is keeping the Ducks in the running. Since Lanning took over as coach for the program, Oregon has had one of the top defenses, which stands out to recruits.
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Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi walks the field during the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Ducks had one defensive lineman taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Derrick Harmon. Oregon has done well developing players and getting them ready to take the next step in the NFL. With a defensive-minded head coach and an overall successful program, Jones would fit right in with the Oregon Ducks.
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“A few months ago, Oregon was not viewed as a threat in this race, but things changed. He has visited multiple times, including for a game last fall. Kamran Araghi is the lead recruiter for Jones and the two have had deep talks about the fit, how he could see the field early and the type of coaching he would receive,” On3’s Chad Simmons wrote.
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Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning arrives before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Simmons puts the Ducks at No. 3 of his top schools, naming Alabama the favorite, but also argues that Oregon is right there with the others, as it is a tight race for the five-star recruit. The recent recruiting success for Oregon could play a role in Jones’ decision, with the momentum in their favor, and the players coming in could keep the Ducks as a top team.
It has been a big week for the Oregon Ducks on the recruiting trail. The biggest commitment came on July 3 when five-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho chose Oregon. Iheanacho is the highest-rated offensive lineman in history to commit to Oregon.
Just one day before Iheanacho, four-star interior offensive lineman Tommy Tofi flipped his decision from the Cal Bears to the Ducks. Tofi was the second player in a week to flip from Cal to Oregon.
Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning during a timeout in the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
The Oregon Ducks’ recruiting class of 2026 now ranks No. 8 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten. The class is up to 14 commits, featuring two five-star and eight four-star recruits. After missing out on big players in the spring, Oregon has full momentum and could land another five-star recruit this month.
Alabama football hosted a hometown kid for an official visit last weekend when it got Jeremiah Beverley on campus for an official visit.
Beverley attends Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and ESPN currently has him rated as a four-star recruit. He is considering Alabama, Cincinnati, Wake Forest and others.
The Crimson Tide offered Beverley earlier this month and got him on campus for an official visit last weekend. The Alabama target told Touchdown Alabama he used the visit to learn what the Tide has planned for him if he commits.
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“I’m truly happy that I went on that official visit,” Beverley said. “Blessed for that. All I was talking about was the next step, what I got to do? So, just knowing what they have planned for me, knowing what they have set for me.”
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Beverley makes plays for Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa as a defensive end. Alabama has plans to use him similarly at the next level.
“They’re going to have me at wolf mostly,” Beverley said. “I know coach (Kane) Wommack and coach (Christian) Robinson, I think they see me at other positions, but I know it is guaranteed they’re going to see me at Wolf and me working my way up on special teams, and they expect that out of me.”
Beverley is expected to announce a commitment decision on Friday.
Watch Jeremiah Beverley’s Highlights Below:
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Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
Alabama football is hiring Noah Fisher to be its assistant tight ends coach, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Fisher spent two seasons as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line and tight ends at Louisville before joining the Tide’s staff. He played three years on the offensive line at South Alabama and spent one season with Tulane. The Jaguars started Fisher along its offensive line when he was a player for multiple games.
The Crimson Tide appear to want to use their tight ends in multiple ways in the future including as extra blockers along the line of scrimmage. Fisher looks as if he can assist the Tide with this mission.
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Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
PRICHARD, Ala. (NBC 15) — Sewage overflows during storms in Prichard are sending wastewater into local waterways that feed Mobile Bay, prompting an environmental group to push for state funding to upgrade aging infrastructure.
Mobile Baykeeper says sewage overflows during storms flow into Three Mile Creek, then into the Mobile River, and ultimately end up in Mobile Bay. The group said that last week, during heavy rain, more than 256,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Gum Tree Branch and Three Mile Creek.
Mobile Baykeeper has launched a petition seeking funding from the state of Alabama to fix Prichard’s old water infrastructure.
