Mario Cristobal responded with a let's go and a fist pump while on his phone after five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the top prospect in the 2026 class, committed to Miami. Cristobal, who is at the ACC Spring meetings, appeared to be in the hallway of the hotel in Amelia Island where the meetings are being held.
Cantwell elevates Miami into the top 10 2026 classes. Cantwell is the top commit or signee to Miami under Cristobal and second all-time. Linebacker D.J. Williams, a University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame inductee, is the only Miami recruit all-time rated higher than Cantwell.
Cantwell is a foundational player and the type of prospect Cristobal likes to build his teams around. When Miami hired Cristobal in December 2021, he discussed building his roster from the inside out. Cantwell should start as a true freshman, with Miami expected to lose three offensive linemen after the 2025 season.
Cantwell is at least the fourth five-star offensive lineman signed by Cristobal and Miami OL coach Alex Mirabal. Cristobal and Mirabal signed five-star OT Penei Sewell with Oregon and Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola in the 2023 Miami class. Sewell was the seventh pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Cristobal reacting to Jackson Cantwell picking Miami @On3Recruits pic.twitter.com/e7ozFM46Wm
— Aslan Hajivandi (@AslanHodges) May 13, 2025
Mauigoa is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cantwell stated his decision to commit to Miami was because Cristobal and Mirabal provide him with his best chance to develop and that they recruited him the hardest. Cristobal and Mirabal have a proven history of developing OL.
Miami is becoming a destination for OL. Cantwell should team with four-star 2026 Miami commit Ben Congdon to provide the Hurricanes with a blue-chip pair of tackles to anchor the Miami OL for three seasons. Cantwell is an immense commitment for Miami in the 2026 class.