Florida Football Recruiting: Keep your eye on Anthony Tank Jones

Getting excited about members of the class of 2026 can be a slippery slope. Even if a player from the class were to commit to Florida football today, getting their name on paper would still be a long journey.

But by the same token, the players getting offers now from Billy Napier and crew are players that are going to be in recruiting headlines for the next two to three years before someone eventually lands them.

Anthony “Tank” Jones is a player we will hear about for a long time.

Florida Football Recruiting: Build like a tank

Jones is a soon-to-be sophomore out of Mobile, AL. Listed at 6’4″ and 225 pounds, there are not a lot of high school freshmen built like Jones. Playing for St. Paul’s Episcopal High School, Jones is an all-around athlete who can win games alone.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Saints use him as a wide receiver that can go up and challenge for a 50-50 ball or can be used in the screen game and look like he was shot out of a cannon.

Where Jones shines the most, though, is along the defensive line. While he gets moved around the front seven and has snaps as a nose tackle and as a middle linebacker, he showcases his best work when allowed to wreak havoc off the edge.

Jones will chase down QBs with ease even when they escape the pocket, but he still has the wherewithal to read plays and stay in his lane, as demonstrated by the play he makes 20 seconds into his Freshman Highlight Film.

If Jones intends to play Edge in college, he still has another 30-40 pounds to put on. But he has three more years to get there.

Florida football offered Jones this week, joining the list of Alabama, Auburn, FSU, and Colorado, among others. Getting him out of Alabama will be a challenge, but if his name continues to pop up in connection with the Gators, he is one that Napier is going to want.