Texas Football: 3 hidden gems for Steve Sarkisian in the 2022 class

Anthony Jones, ATH

Texas’s lone commitment among non-special teams prospects during the visit season last month came from the former Washington Huskies pledge and three-star Liberty (NV) athlete Anthony Jones. There are a lot of ties that the current Longhorns coaching staff has back to the Washington football program.

The primary recruiter going after Jones for Texas is new co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Pete Kwiatkowski. He was also one of the top recruiters after Jones while he was a co-defensive coordinator under head coach Jimmy Lake with the Huskies.

The last official visit that Jones had prior to his commitment came with Texas on June 11. He also had an official visit with head coach (and former Texas defensive coordinator) Manny Diaz and the Miami Hurricanes back on June 4.

If the number of high-profile college programs on Jones’s offer sheet doesn’t show you the type of talent he brings to the table, then just look at his film. Jones is going to be a rather switchable player for the Longhorns that could fill a role either at tight end on offense or along the front seven on defense. He’s played in an edge rusher role in high school but has also got reps at tight end and wideout.

That type of switchability is reminiscent of the days under former head coach Tom Herman, but Jones specifically is likely to stick with Kwiatkowski on defense. He could be a very potent edge rusher given his raw athleticism and gifted physical tools. It is as simple as that considering the Jones’ quickness and strength are beyond his years while he’s seeing out his senior year of high school.