Five-star offensive tackle and top overall prospect Jackson Cantwell committed to Miami on Tuesday, choosing the Hurricanes over Georgia, Oregon, and Ohio State. Here’s a breakdown of the sting factor—rated on a scale of 1 to 10—for each of the three programs that missed out on Cantwell.
GEORGIA
Cantwell made his sixth visit to Georgia over the weekend, and the general sense was that he was finalizing his commitment to the Bulldogs rather than weighing his options. Coming out of the visit, confidence in Athens was high—Georgia appeared to be leading his recruitment by a wide margin.
However, as is often the case in recruiting, the final hours proved pivotal. Miami ultimately secured Cantwell’s commitment. He developed a strong connection with head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, which played a key role in the Hurricanes coming out on top. Reportedly, a lucrative NIL deal was also a factor in the decision
Georgia, on the other hand, hasn’t been as aggressive with NIL offers compared to other programs. Coach Kirby Smart has instead relied on his track record of national titles and producing NFL talent to attract recruits. It remains to be seen whether this outcome will push him to adjust his approach—or grow even more frustrated with the current recruiting landscape.
OHIO STATE
There’s always going to be strong interest between elite prospects and Ohio State—especially after winning a national championship—but in Cantwell’s case, the connection never quite reached a serious stage.
The Nixa, Missouri, standout had built a solid rapport with former offensive line coach Justin Frye, but only had one meeting with new OL coach Tyler Bowen. While that meeting was positive, Cantwell had already developed stronger relationships with coaches at other programs.
Ohio State has already secured commitments from in-state four-star prospects Sam Greer and Maxwell Riley, and also added high three-star Tucker Smith out of Arizona. The Buckeyes are in good shape moving forward.
OREGON
Just a few weeks ago, there was real buzz that Oregon might land both five-star offensive tackles Immanuel Iheanacho and Jackson Cantwell—potentially locking in elite bookends for their offensive line in the coming years.
While Cantwell is now off the board, Iheanacho remains a top target for the Ducks. The Georgetown Prep standout from North Bethesda, Maryland, is still very much in play and could even make a strong case for the No. 1 offensive tackle ranking by the end of the cycle—offering Oregon a chance to bounce back in a big way.
Still, it’s been a surprisingly tough stretch for a program not used to losing many recruiting battles. Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis chose Georgia, four-star receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt committed to Ohio State, and four-star Kodi Greene flipped to Washington. Even five-star defensive end Richard Wesley, who committed over the weekend, reportedly did so without informing his family and is still considering other visits.
Landing Cantwell would have been a significant win for Oregon—not just for football reasons, but also with the added appeal of the school’s strong track program and deep Nike ties. In the end, though, it didn’t come together.
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