One of many hottest names of the recruiting path over the previous few years within the 2026 class has been No. 1 total recruit Jackson Cantwell, who has collected 30 scholarship presents and has a Prime 10 of faculties virtually completely within the Massive Ten or SEC.
Cantwell, a 6’8”, 315-pound offensive lineman, has a Prime 10 of Texas A&M, Miami, Nebraska, Oregon, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Missouri and LSU.
The five-star is coming off current visits to Massive Ten powerhouses Michigan and Ohio State as he seems to be to make the rounds along with his high faculties.
“I had plenty of enjoyable in Michigan and Ohio State. I imply, these are simply two nice locations,” Cantwell mentioned at a media occasion a part of the Below Armour All-America sport. “I realized loads from speaking ball with [offensive line] coach [Grant] Newsome Michigan, and bought to be taught much more about this system at Ohio State, was attending to type of get the tour of that. In order that was a extremely pleasant journey.”
At this level, Cantwell has a go to to Texas A&M on his bucket record, as he’s but to make the journey out to see the Aggies for the reason that spring of 2023. Outdoors of that, the five-star doesn’t anticipate to take a look at any new faculties, and will not even take that many visits, on account of his observe necessities within the spring, previous to official visits.
Jackson Cantwell checks in as an Below Armour All-American sport captain in his junior 12 months of highschool @jcantwell2499
The No. 3 ranked prospect within the ESPN Jr. 300 has elite bodily presents and is among the most dominant prospects within the nation #UANext pic.twitter.com/YxSNBZLeop
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) December 29, 2024
The five-star offensive lineman solely needs to take 4 official visits as nicely in the summertime with the opportunity of including an additional one in Could, which implies he’ll need to slender down his record of faculties by then.
a few of his high suitors, what does Cantwell like about every of his high faculties?
On Texas A&M: “The Aggies, I imply, they’ve loads going for them so far as they’ve put plenty of time into recruiting me, they usually’ve actually proven them a precedence there. I like their O-line coach loads. I feel Coach [Adam] Cushing has proven me plenty of nice stuff to this point and breaking down movie with me and what I can do and the way they’re profitable.
“I like Coach Elko. He’s a superb dude. They bought very promising two sport stuff there. They’d Bryce Foster, I’d say, some time again, like a pair years like, you recognize, performing some throwing, some shot put there, throwing some discus whereas he was taking part in offensive line. So it’s promising that you are able to do two sports activities at Texas A&M.”
On Miami: “Miami excites me loads as a result of I imply, they’ve an offensive line-oriented head coach in Mario Cristobal. I like Coach Cristobal loads. I feel Coach [Alex] Mirabal is a top-five [offensive] line coach within the nation. Even that could possibly be slightly bit subjective the place in that high 5 can be as a result of I imply, he does a unbelievable job. I imply he’s been nice creating [players]. They all the time appear to have the suitable guys on the offensive line.
“I watched them play towards Duke. They’d Cam Ward — had on a regular basis to do principally no matter he wished in there, and he was rolling round for like 30 seconds. You bought to have some good go safety up entrance. They do a unbelievable job. In order that was type of what’s what excites me about Miami’s O-line growth.
“I’ve talked to [Coach Cristobal and Mirabal] a good quantity. It type of got here up slightly bit just lately as a result of they had been one of many first ones to type of leap within the boat, like I’d say winter of 2022. And I didn’t discuss to them like an entire lot after that. However then I type of bought again on with them in like 2023, 2024. I simply didn’t know after I’d have the ability to go to.
“And I imply, I simply bought again down there, bought talked to them and I like type of what they do. They appear to be a really shut bunch. They’ve type of recognized for some time they wish to develop offensive linemen, they wish to have an awesome offensive line. In order that’s simply type of among the stuff excites me about Coach Cristobal as an entire.”
On Georgia: “They do plenty of issues proper. They do plenty of consideration to element. I like [offensive line] coach [Stacy] Searels loads. Coach Searles [is] undoubtedly certainly one of my favourite O-line coaches that I’ve seen to this point. I feel it’s simply because if you’re at Georgia you’ll be able to like recruit extremely nicely.
“So clearly that may assist Coach Searles out loads, however he additionally does a fairly good job creating these guys and getting them able to go play on the subsequent stage. In order that’s one thing that I’ve all the time been enthusiastic about with them. And I imply, it’s simply UGA such as you develop up and also you see UGA taking part in nationwide championships loads. And I feel they’ve bought a extremely good probability to win one this 12 months. So it’s all the time good to be a contender.”
On Nebraska: “Nebraska performed a fairly unbelievable sport at any time when I watched them there. Clearly, they’re type of again into being an up-and-coming program. It sounds bizarre as a result of they had been a blue blood for some time and now they’re type of coming again up once more. I imply, first bowl sport win since 2015. All the time good to go see some progress linearly. I imply, they assume they’re going to have the ability to win much more video games subsequent 12 months. So I’m excited to type of see how these guys hold creating that program as a result of it’s clearly actually promising.
“When you get a quarterback, that helps loads. The bought the quarterback they bought. They’re attempting to get a supporting solid round him. So I’m glad to see they’re investing loads in these guys. I imply, clearly, they’re in want of offensive linemen they usually’ve mentioned that’s one thing that I might clearly be a giant piece for them in 2026 class with. So I’m excited to type of see how that’ll find yourself creating.”
On Alabama: “Alabama, clearly they’re an excellent soccer crew. I imply, clearly there’s some query about if they may have made it into the playoffs or not. And with one sport going proper for them, they in all probability would have made it in with a fairly excessive seed. So I imply they’re a crew that’s been a blue blood for some time now. I imply, I feel Kalen DeBoer does a unbelievable job. I feel he will get over-criticized a bunch simply because he’s not Nick Saban. However you don’t need to be Nick Saban to be an awesome soccer coach.
“He’s a confirmed winner. He’s gained in all places he’s been. He’s gained at D3, he’s gained at D1, FCS, he’s gained at Energy 5. Like he’s a man that may go on the market and win soccer video games. And [offensive line] coach [Chris] Kapilovic as nicely, the O-line coach there, we had some ties from Michigan State, however I didn’t discuss to them as a lot. However when he bought to Bama, we already had that connection so it helped out loads. And he went to Missouri State, which is 20 minutes for me. So he is aware of my space very well. So, it’s type of cool they get to share that.”
On Missouri: “ I grew up on the Mizzou campus. I feel from till I used to be 8, I principally lived there whereas my dad was educated to be an expert shot putter. So I do know loads about it. Clearly, I imply, they bought a superb factor going there proper now. They’re profitable a good quantity of video games.
“They’re within the high 25, it looks like yearly for the final couple years now. Ever since they bought Coach Drinkwood, their offensive line has been on the come up. Actually, they’ve completed a greater and higher job each single 12 months. I feel [offensive line] coach [Brandon] Jones has been a reasonably large a part of that.”
“And I imply, so far as, like, profitable these battles, I imply, it’s actually robust to get away from Missouri as a result of, like, they put such an enormous emphasis on in-state guys. That’s their greatest recruiting precedence proper now’s Eli Drinkwood needs to get in-state guys. So, I imply, I feel that’s why that’s taking place and attempt to make it as robust as attainable for guys to go away the state.”
On Oregon: “I feel they’re actually promising. I imply, nationwide championship favorites proper now. I don’t wish to jinx [Head] Coach [Dan] Lanning on that, however no, they’ve completed an awesome job. I feel individuals panicked after two video games, didn’t perceive it takes time to construct stuff. However [offensive line coach] A’lique Terry has completed a unbelievable job constructing these guys up on the offensive line.
They coach about in addition to anyone. I feel Dan Lanning is among the most likable dudes in school soccer proper now so far as head coaches go. And I can affirm that he’s like that on a regular basis. He’s only a nice dude. He is aware of plenty of guys in our south, in our Missouri space, in like southwest Missouri. So I’ve gotten to speak to him loads and I’ve actually loved getting to maintain constructing that relationship. I imply, there’s nice stuff occurring in Oregon.”
LSU and USC have fallen onto the again ropes right here as Cantwell’s recruitment continues to take off, however there are a selection of heavy suitors for the five-star’s companies, which can result in a really aggressive battle down the road, one that may absolutely contain NIL.
Whereas the offensive lineman himself hasn’t been very concerned, he employed Rosenhaus Sports activities Illustration to assist him navigate the method easily.
“I don’t know an entire lot but [about NIL yet], however I imply, I’m glad that I bought [Rosenhaus Sports Representation] on board. Earlier, my dad was watching an episode of Laborious Knocks and he noticed them symbolize any person and was like, ‘that’s the man,’” Cantwell mentioned, referring to Drew Rosenahus. “And I feel he was proper as a result of they do a unbelievable job. However they’ve nonetheless bought to go meet with everyone as a result of we have now not met with an entire lot of faculties but if actually, if many in any respect…So the pondering is, is that they wish to guarantee that every thing’s gonna be what’s greatest for me after which we’ll see what to do from there. However I belief these guys with every thing. They’ve completed a unbelievable job with professionals, school guys. They’re beginning to get to highschool proper now, fortunately. So it helped me out loads.”