Still fired up over Miami football landing the commitment of 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell? You’re not alone. The Hurricanes just pulled off what many thought was a long shot—flipping a kid who looked all but set for SEC country and bringing him to Coral Gables instead. Georgia had been the presumed frontrunner, and even home-state Missouri and Oregon were real contenders. But in a move that could redefine the Hurricanes’ recruiting mojo, Cantwell flipped the script and committed to the Canes on Tuesday. And while the $2 million NIL deal didn’t hurt, the real difference-makers were Mario Cristobal and OL coach Alex Mirabal. Two names synonymous with trench development and culture-building in South Florida.
The turning point? It started with the visits. After Jackson Cantwell took in Athens for what many assumed was his final stop, the narrative shifted. Rather than doubling back to Missouri or heading west to Oregon, Cantwell found himself back in Miami. That decision alone set the tone.
As recruiting analyst Chad Simmons put it on The Simmons Scoop, “Getting back down there, seeing a spring workout, spending more time with Cristobal, Mirabal, getting a better, deeper feel for the culture, what they’re trying to build there in the ACC—obviously the buzz around Cam Ward being potentially, at that time, the number one pick in the NFL Draft — trying to use that as well to kind of show Cantwell where he can be, what he can do there at Miami.” Simmons didn’t stop there, diving into why the Canes were able to close the gap.
“I think, to me, that’s really where Miami kind of initially made that move to put themselves in that position to be one of those final hats on the table, and then things took off from there. From the conversations to—we know NIL is a factor—to playing time opportunity. He loved the two-headed offensive line coach with [Alex] Mirabal and [Mario] Cristobal, both with O-line backgrounds. So, I think the key turning point for Miami, at least based on what I know and what I’ve been told, was getting him back on campus instead of going to a place like Georgia or back to Missouri or even Oregon at that point. He went to Miami instead, and Miami really did a great job of answering those questions on that visit and putting themselves in a better spot coming out of it,” Simmons said.
Credits: Jackson Cantwell Twitter
And then there’s Jackson Cantwell himself—a 6-foot-7, 300-pound bookend with NFL dreams and a personality just as polished as his punch sets. Speaking moments after announcing for Miami, Cantwell didn’t mince words about what made the Canes stand out. “They’ve got it all,” he said. “Whenever you’ve got a guy like Mario Cristobal and Coach Mirabal, you know you’re in a good spot. You’re going to be developed by some of the best out there. They’re producing guys really well. Whenever they get their guys, they’re usually very successful. If you look at the track record there, and even with some of the guys they currently have, they’ve done really well in the past. Coach Cristobal has turned every program into a winner that he’s been at so far. I’m just excited to be a part of it.” Of course, Cantwell wasn’t shy about the role of NIL.
The $2 million deal he’ll reportedly receive makes him one of the most valuable offensive line recruits in the country. That kind of financial security, paired with the chance to work under two of the most respected offensive line developers in college football, gave Miami the edge in what had been a crowded race. And while he won’t get the chance to block for projected one-and-done Carson Beck in Coral Gables, Cantwell made it clear he’s fully bought into what’s being built in Miami.
Cantwell’s commitment is also coming with a fast-track timeline. On Tuesday, he revealed plans to graduate high school early and enroll at Miami next December, giving him a head start in the weight room, playbook, and spring ball next year.
U legend’s stamp of approval helped seal the deal for Jackson Cantwell
Turns out, No. 1 OT Jackson Cantwell didn’t just get recruited by coaches—he got the nod from a Hurricane legend. Yep, University of Miami Sports Hall of Famer Vince Wilfork played a sneaky but powerful role in helping Cantwell commit to The U.
In a chat with Wyatt D. Wheeler of the Springfield News-Leader, Cantwell opened up about a meaningful conversation he had with Wilfork—one that clearly stuck. Both big men share a love beyond football: the shot put. Cantwell, the 2024 national champion in the event and a top discus thrower, connected instantly with Wilfork, who once finished second in Florida state track and broke Miami’s indoor shot put record with a heave of 7.05 meters (55’-11.25”).
Wilfork doesn’t usually dish out recruiting advice, but this time? He did.
According to Cantwell, Wilfork said: “He told me that he used to not tell players to go there because it wasn’t very good before…Once (Mario) Cristobal got there, he said he feels confident in telling guys to do it because he has the culture back and that there’s a fantastic thing going on there….” Thanks to Mario Cristobal, whom Wilfork praised heavily.
Now, Cantwell is eyeing dual-sport dreams: “I might try to get Vince to maybe, kindly, tell Coach Cristobal that it’d be a great thing for me to do (throw the shot put)…He can do it in whatever way he chooses.” Big men, big plans.
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