Oregon 5-star Tank Jones compared to projected 1st round pick

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Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was easily one of the best players in college football in 2025, as he won the Ted Hendricks award given to the nation’s top defensive end. A year after recording 3.5 sacks, Bain exploded with 9.5 sacks to go along with 54 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. His role in Miami’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game was paramount, as he finished five sacks in four playoff games.

All of it has put the 6-foot-3, 275-pounder in the conversation to be the first edge rusher selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

247Sports recruiting director Andrew Ivins witnessed Bain’s ascension from a four-star in the 2023 class to an eventual first-rounder three seasons later. With his accredited perspective, he gave high praise for Oregon Ducks 2026 commit Anthony “Tank” Jones.

“I love Anthony ‘Tank’ Jones, the edge rusher,” Ivans said during an appearance on CBS Sports. “I think he’s the closest thing to Miami’s Rueben Bain in this 2026 class.”

According to 247Sports, Jones is rated as a five-star and the No. 5 edge in the class — higher than Bain’s ranking of tenth at the position coming out of high school.

While Jones is a similar height, coming in at just over 6-foot-3, he weighs 30 pounds less than the powerful Bain. But considering his frame and the top notch athletic department that he’s walking into at Oregon, Jones certainly could add to his frame with time.

The high praise isn’t coming from nowhere, as Ivans has been around the block and seen a litany of players develop during his time. The talent is there for Jones — we’ll just have to see if he can live up to the high expectations.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon 5-Star EDGE Tank Jones draws 1st-round NFL comparison

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