No. 1 2026 CFB Recruit Jackson Cantwell Commits to Miami Over Georgia, OSU, Oregon

5-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell has committed to Miami.

Cantwell, who is considered the top prospect in the 2026 class, announced his decision in a livestream on Tuesday. He was also considering Oregon, Ohio State and Georgia.

On3's Aslan Hajivandi shared a video of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal reacting to the news:

Cantwell named both Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal as part of the reason why he committed to the Hurricanes.

"I think relationships won out in the end. I know Coach Mirabal and Coach Cristobal, who—Coach Mirabal's right there— they've spent so much time recruiting me over the past year," Cantwell said after his commitment, per The Athletic's Grace Raynor. "They’ve spent so much time checking in with me, they’ve texted me every day. We’ve talked so much about offensive line development, what my potential there is at the U."

Mirabal previously served as offensive line coach at Oregon, where he played a key role in the college development of Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell. After joining the Hurricanes, he helped develop Francis Mauigoa, who is widely expected to be a top prospect in the 2026 NFL draft.

Cantwell mentioned both Sewell and Mauigoa as motivation to join Mirabal at Miami.

"I just feel like it’s a place I can develop and be something great," Cantwell said, per Raynor. "And even if football weren’t to go my way, I like Coral Gables a lot. I like the university and I’d love to go study there, as well.”

Cantwell was named the 2024 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and finished as a finalist for Gatorade National Player of the Year as a starting left tackle for Nixa High School in Missouri.

He was also named the 2023-24 Gatorade Missouri Boys Track & Field Player of the Year for his shot putting. Cantwell, the son of two former Olympic shot putters, is expected to continue track and field in college, per ESPN's Eli Lederman.

247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks described Cantwell, who clocks in a 6'7.5" and 325 pounds, as a "big-framed offensive tackle prospect with a stellar athletic profile and pedigree who's an advanced mover at this stage of development."

Brooks projected Cantwell as a multi-year starter in college with "long-term early-round NFL Draft potential."

Cantwell is the first 5-star commit to join Miami's Class of 2026, per 247Sports. Cristobal's program has already received commitments from three 4-star recruits in linebacker Jordan Campbell and cornerbacks Camdin Portis and Jaelen Waters, according to 247Sports.