The Oregon Ducks have landed a huge commitment from 5-star EDGE Tank Jones and are bringing in the Alabama native all the way up to Eugene for his college career. This is huge for the Ducks as Jones picked Oregon over Alabama, a program that the Ducks used to never be able to compete with when it came to recruiting.
Of course, as many Alabama fans do when they don't win, the Crimson Tide faithful have taken to the message boards and are complaining about the fact that college football has changed and the world of NIL is ruining it all.
In all reality, Alabama fans are just upset that Kalen DeBoer couldn't land Jones over Oregon. Yes, Jones grew up in Alabama, but there are many recruits out there who go to school outside of their home state, so losing a kid who lives in Mobile is not what should be upsetting these fans.
What should be upsetting them is the fact that the program can't keep up with what the world of college sports is changing into. Alabama can no longer hide behind the Nick Saban name, and they need to stand on their own two feet. So far, it isn't looking good for the Crimson Tide.
#Alabama lost a recruit to #Oregon. Their program is cooked! pic.twitter.com/H0jg2OYP2D
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) July 31, 2025
Many Alabama fans said that Oregon has zero tradition, and this is what is aiding the turn of college sports into professional sports. In reality, every school is doing this, and Alabama just can't keep up with it.
Jones didn't just pick Oregon because of the NIL money; he also picked the Ducks because he feels the branding in Eugene will be better for him, and he has the chance to only focus on school and football.
Ultimately, Jones picked the school he feels most comfortable at and feels is going to take him where he wants to go, and Alabama fans are just mad that their team is becoming less and less relevant without Nick Saban in the building.