Nineteen days after Cam Ward was chosen as the number one overall player in the NFL Draft, the Miami Hurricanes have pulled off one of the most significant recruiting victories in program history, landing 5-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall player in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-8, 300-pound behemoth out of Nixa, Missouri, carries a 247Sports score of 0.9995, making him the second-highest ranked commitment in Miami Hurricanes history, trailing only DJ Williams.
This is a massive win for head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, as Miami beat out powerhouses Georgia, Oregon, and Ohio State for Cantwell’s pledge. With Cantwell now part of the 2026 class, the Hurricanes have jumped to the No. 9 overall recruiting class in the 247Sports Composite rankings and climbing.
While many pundits and fans speculated that NIL was the deciding factor, Cantwell took direct aim at that narrative. In a statement addressing recent media spin by Pete Nakos and On3, he didn’t hold back:
“One thing my response too is it’s not the same narrative people like Pete Nakos are pushing right now and I think there’s just a false narrative that that’s why I’m choosing, and I think relationships won out in Miami. They spent the most time with me, they put the effort into recruiting me and I’ve got a lot of skin in the game with all these schools as far as getting represented by Drew, making sure to be fairly compensated. Every school has done a good job of being accommodating with that. Anyone who would say otherwise about how my recruitment has been is misled.”
Cantwell acknowledged that NIL was indeed a factor but was by not the only one. Each school made competitive offers, but what set Miami apart was the relentless relationship-building. Cantwell revealed that Coach Mirabal and Cristobal texted him every single day. They talked development, technique, goals. While some schools tried to negatively recruit against Miami by pointing out their lack of offensive linemen drafted over the past 20 years, Cantwell saw through it. Cristobal’s track record of developing first-round picks like Penei Sewell at Oregon and with Francis Mauigoa now projected to follow that path spoke volumes. Not to mention his track record of developing the championship Bama lines in Nick Saban’s heyday.
But possibly the biggest deciding factor in this recruitment was Cantwell’s personal relationship with Alex Mirabal whom he views as the best offensive line coach in the country. One of the more powerful anecdotes post-commitment was that Coach Mirabal was already in Nixa when Cantwell made the call. In a stealth move by the Miami staff, Mirabal stayed local as Cantwell’s decision neared. He had just returned from a Mother’s Day weekend in Athens and hosted Oregon coaches on Monday. Still, it was Miami’s consistent presence that sealed the deal.
Cantwell made his final decision while flying back from Atlanta to Springfield. During the flight, he reflected on the entire recruiting journey. By the time the plane touched down, he turned to his parents and said, “I think this is it.” Just like that, the Canes had landed their cornerstone.
For Cantwell, the money had to be right. The development plan had to be right. The NFL pipeline had to be real. And Miami checked all three boxes. The Hurricanes, fresh off a season where they had the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and seven total players drafted in 2025 (compared to just one seventh rounder in 2022), are now trending upward on all fronts.
Olympic Pedigree
What makes Jackson Cantwell even more unique is that he’s not just a generational football talent , he comes from a family of elite athletes. He is the son of Olympians Christian Cantwell and Teri (Steer) Cantwell, both of whom represented Team USA in shot put.
Christian Cantwell won the silver medal in the shot put at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. A five-time world champion, including three indoor titles, he dominated the sport for much of the early 2000s. In 2004, he held the top four shot put distances in the world, solidifying his place among the all-time greats.
Teri Cantwell also reached the pinnacle of her sport, competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. A standout at Southern Methodist University, she was an eight-time All-American and won two NCAA championships in the shot put. Her legacy as one of the best collegiate throwers in history helped lay the foundation for Jackson’s own drive and discipline.
That championship DNA clearly runs in the family. Jackson has not only dominated on the football field but also in track and field. He is a two-time Missouri 5A state champion in the shot put, a national champion at Nike Nationals, and was recently named the 2023–24 Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year. At just 16 years old, he can already bench press over 500 pounds an astonishing verification to both genetics and work ethic.
He’s also a Gatorade National Player of the Year finalist in football and firmly entrenched as the No. 1 overall recruit in the country, combining raw strength, athleticism, and intelligence in a way rarely seen.
A Program-Changing Commitment
So what does this mean for the Hurricanes? It’s a seismic moment. A nuclear bomb in the world of recruiting. A month and a half ago, there were rumblings that 5-star athlete Derrek Cooper could join Cantwell in Miami. With Cantwell now locked in, Miami becomes the favorite to land Cooper and a legitimate contender for other elite prospects like 4-star linebacker Malik Morris, and borderline 4/5-star wide receiver Calvin Russell. There are also rumblings that the Canes are in play for another earth-shattering whale. This is the type of impact and momentum that landing the number one overall player in Cantwell can bring to a program like Miami.
Cristobal and Mirabal have now landed the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect for the first time since the 2023 cycle when Cristobal and Miami landed Francis Mauigoa who is projected to be drafted in the first round. These types of players are program changers. The type of talents that win conference titles, punch tickets to the College Football Playoff, and chase national championships.
By acquiring Cantwell over SEC juggernauts and NIL-heavy programs like Oregon, Miami is sending a message loud and clear: The U is rising again. The rules of the past 20 years , where Miami sat as a middling ACC program unable to even get a visit from a player of this caliber no longer apply. Mario Cristobal is building a monster in Coral Gables.
And the rest of college football better brace itself.
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