Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, considered one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, said Tuesday that he will attend the University of Miami, giving the Canes one of their biggest recruiting wins of the Mario Cristobal era.
Cantwell — who announced his commitment at a news conference at Nixa (Missouri) High — visited Georgia over the weekend after previous visits to Miami, Oregon and Ohio State. Those four schools were considered the finalists and had their hats on the table when Cantwell made his decision in the Nixa High gymnasium on Tuesday. Ducks coaches reportedly came to his high school to meet with him again on Monday.
But Miami won out after a persistent push in which they emphasized how Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal have developed offensive linemen into polished prospects and NFL players. That includes three-time Pro Bowl tackle Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions.
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“Relationships won in the end,” Cantwell said.
Miami’s NIL offer also clearly helped. On3.com’s Pete Nakos said last week that Miami offered Cantwell an NIL deal that would pay him $2 million as a freshman. His NIL deal was negotiated by South Florida-based Rosenhaus Sports.
On Tuesday, On SI recruiting director Brooks Austin said the value of the deal increased to near $5 million.
“It’s a blessing to get paid to play the game I love,” Cantwell said. “I’m excited I get to earn money in college and the NFL.”
Cantwell’s parents are both Olympic athletes.
His father, Christian, won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and attended Mizzou.
Mizzou was recruiting Cantwell but didn’t make the final cut.
Nixa junior Jackson Cantwell (79) makes the block during the Class 6 football championship game at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Cantwell can sign with Miami no earlier than mid-December and Cantwell said he will sign during that “earliest” window. The current commitment is non-binding.
“I know coach Mirabal and coach Cristobal have spent so much time recruiting me over the past year,” he said. “They’ve texted me every day. Talked so much about offensive line development. Their history with guys like Penei Sewell, Francis Mauogia, it’s a place I can develop and be something great. I like Coral Gables, love the university a lot.
“You know you are going to be developed by the best out there. You look at the track records there. Coach Cristobal has turned every program he has been at into a winner. They will only keep getting better.”
He said he made his decision in the past two days, on a flight home from Atlanta after his Georgia visit.
Cantwell, who is 6-7 and 325 pounds, is rated the nation’s No. 1 Class of 2026 prospect by Rivals, the No. 2 overall prospect by On3.com and the No. 3 prospect by ESPN and 247 Sports. Linebacker D.J. Williams was the last Canes commitment who was rated No. 1 overall by a major recruiting service; he signed with Miami in 2000 and went onto a long NFL career.
After receiving word on Cantwell’s announcement, Cristobal was videotaped shouting “let’s go!” and “let’s do this” at a hallway at the ACC meetings in Amelia Island.
Cantwell began his high school career at tight end before moving to offensive tackle.
247 Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks assessed him this way: “Tall, big-framed offensive tackle prospect with a stellar athletic profile and pedigree who’s an advanced mover at this stage of development. Quick off the ball and flashes hand violence and POA power. Bounce in his step and plays with active feet. Capable bender who gets hips involved. Further ahead as a run blocker than in pass protection, but displays encouraging footwork in the latter with immense potential in that category.
“More catcher than puncher in pass pro, but strength is there and power capacity is possibly limitless. Missouri state champion in shot put and discus, Nike Outdoor Nationals competitor. Rare multi-sport profile and genetic background (son of two former Olympics throws athletes). Can get more consistent use of length/extension. May ultimately possess a higher ceiling on the right side. Projects as a high-major multi-year starter with outstanding physical tools and athletic/genetic profile that suggests long-term early-round NFL Draft potential.”
Besides Oregon and Georgia and Ohio State, Cantwell previously considered Michigan and Missouri.
On3.com analyst Charles Power said Cantwell “moves well laterally and plays with a good anchor. Has deep athletic bloodlines with both parents being Olympic track and field athletes as throwers.”
Cantwell is a multi-sport athlete who also excelled in track. In football, he was Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024 and a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year. He had 158 pancake blocks last season, per Maxpreps.com.
In track, he was named Gatorade Missouri Boys Track and Field Player of the Year. He was a two-time Missouri Class 5A state champion in the shot put. He owns a personal-best 74-9.75 effort in the shot put – which is the national high school record for a sophomore – and a 205-4 in the discus.
Cantwell said he’s unsure if he will participate in track at Miami.
“Not only has he dominated on the field, he has represented our school, community and family very well,” said his high school coach John Perry. “He turned out to be something special. He has worked as hard as anyone in this school district.”
Former Miami elite offensive linemen Bryant McKinnie and Vernon Carey were among those who lobbied Cantwell to join Miami, on social media, in recent days.
This marks the third time during Cristobal’s three-plus year Miami tenure that he has landed recruits ranked among the top three offensive linemen in the country. He previously snagged Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola, who were both top-three offensive line recruits in 2023. Mauigoa has started for Miami at right tackle for two years; Okunlola is competing for playing time.
The Canes entered Tuesday with the No. 11 ranked recruiting class for 2026, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings, and Cantwell’s commitment is expected to jump Miami into the top 10.
Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here’s a glimpse at the week of May 4, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
