Jackson Cantwell isn’t just a blue-chip prospect—he’s a mountain in cleats. At 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, the Nixa, Missouri native is the top offensive tackle in the 2026 recruiting class. Maybe the most physically dominant high school athlete in the country. And with his announcement now set for April 30, the buzz around where he’ll land has reached a fever pitch. Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has pushed hard for the elite lineman. Hoping to plug him into a Bulldogs offensive line that’s under serious reconstruction. But despite Georgia once being viewed as a frontrunner, momentum is shifting—and fast.
Cantwell is slated to take one final visit before his decision, heading west for Oregon’s spring game on April 26. The Ducks are in hot pursuit, but it’s not just Dan Lanning and company making a surge. According to Locked On Canes insiders Alex, the Miami Hurricanes are firmly out in front. “A lot of folks—even some folks on the Oregon side—have said that Miami is probably in the lead right now,” Alex said. That’s a plot twist few saw coming, especially considering how Georgia had built strong inroads with Cantwell early in his recruitment. If that Oregon visit doesn’t deliver fireworks, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal might just pull off a blockbuster win.
The other half of the intel came from Brian, who admitted he was dialing into some private sources for more clarity. “I actually have a phone call I’m going to make later today to try to get more details on that, but I’ve heard the same thing—that Oregon is not very happy about where it was as of three, four days ago,” Brian said. That tracks with how this recruitment has felt behind the scenes—fluid, uncertain, and, now, potentially leaning towards South Beach. “I haven’t heard anything [new] but again, I got a phone call to make. I think this comes down to the Oregon visit.” In other words, the Ducks have one last shot to leave an impression—and they know it.
5-Star Jackson Cantwell will take one final visit before he anounces his commitment
On3’s @SWiltfong_ gives his take on where the No. 1 recruit in America will land
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— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) April 15, 2025
While Miami might be inching closer, Brian added a pointed observation about the NIL game and its quiet influence on Cantwell’s decision-making. “I don’t know if it’s so close it’s just the money, like he can’t pick, but I haven’t heard anybody say it’s going to be Georgia.” That’s a stinging development for Kirby Smart, who’s known to lean more old-school in his approach to NIL. “Kirby is very old school. He doesn’t like NIL up front. Like, he’s afraid of the locker room. He’s Nick Saban 2.0 in terms of how he tries to run it.” That philosophy might win over parents and old-guard coaches. But in this new era, up-front NIL packages are often the difference between a commitment and a near miss.
If that weren’t enough, there’s also the uncomfortable truth about Georgia’s recent offensive line play. For a program built on trench dominance, the Bulldogs’ front five underwhelmed in 2023. “Did you know they gave up 25 sacks last year?” Brian asked. “That should never be the case—but they sucked.” For a player like Jackson Cantwell, who’s looking not only for development but a platform to dominate early, that stat matters. It doesn’t help that the Bulldogs have lost ground just as other programs are peaking in their pitch.
This entire saga took another twist when Jackson Cantwell quietly eliminated two major contender behind the scenes—adding to the mystery and tightening the race.
Homegrown no more, Jackson Cantwell says goodbye to Mizzou
It’s official—five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell is heading out of state for college football, and that decision just landed like a hammer blow in Columbia. Missouri and Michigan, once considered top contenders in Cantwell’s recruitment, are no longer in the mix. And for Mizzou fans especially, that one stings.
Cantwell, the hometown hero who bulldozed his way into the national spotlight with the Nixa Eagles, seemed like a natural fit for the Tigers. His family roots run deep in Missouri. His dad, Christian Cantwell, is a former Mizzou standout who went on to win a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics. His mom, Teri, also an Olympian, served as a track and field assistant coach in Missouri. Talk about a Tiger legacy.
But even with that rich family history, Jackson had other ideas. In a conversation with Springfield News-Leader’s Wyatt D. Wheeler, Cantwell opened up about his choice to look beyond his backyard. “I’m finding the best place that I can see myself growing to my fullest potential. Couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “I knew I was gonna end up going out of state and playing for one of those other schools… I just knew it was going to happen.”
Respect for Mizzou? Absolutely. But Jackson’s making his own name now.
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