4-star edge rusher says the Tennessee Vols are the 'team to beat' in his recruitment

Earlier this week, 2026 four-star edge rusher Anthony Jones included the Tennessee Vols in his top five schools , along with Michigan, Arizona State, Washington, and UCLA.

Jones, 6-foot-4/240 lbs from Irvine, CA, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 19 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 22 player in the state of California.

The four-star recruit spoke to 247Sports about his recruitment this week and he indicated that Tennessee, for now, is the team to beat in his recruitment.

"Tennessee is probably the team to beat right now," said Jones . "Me and the coaches talk all the time and I feel I fit the scheme on that defense pretty well. They are definitely high on me and that interest is mutual."

Scouting report on Anthony Jones via 247Sports : Intriguing defensive lineman with a lot of next level traits. Has a long 6-5, 240 pound frame with close to an 80” wingspan and shows the ability to play inside or outside. A natural edge rusher who can use his length and get-off to win one on one battles. Took reps at tackle at the Under Armour Next Camp in March and showed he could win in tight spaces with quickness and hands. Has an aggressive edge to him and plays with a motor. Has the athleticism to run down plays from outside his area and is still just scratching the surface of where we think his game can get to in a few years. Has the frame to easily add another 25 pounds or so and shows the positional versatility to play in multiple schemes. Easy high major Power 4 prospect with an NFL upside.

Tennessee is becoming a top destination for elite edge rushers thanks to the Vols' recent defensive success. Former Vols edge rusher Byron Young is thriving in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and current Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce is expected to be one of the top selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Vols also have several other talented edge rushers on their roster that could be future NFL players in Jordan Ross, Caleb Herring, and Joshua Josephs.

The Vols currently have two players committed to their 2026 recruiting class.

Related: Tennessee DC Tim Banks reveals how Vols DL James Pearce has reacted to not getting any sacks in first 2 games of season