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Miami fans going crazy over commitment from No. 1 overall recruit

The Miami Hurricanes have landed Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
ByPatrick Previty|
Nixa High School offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 ranked high school football recruit for the class of 2026, announced he will play football at Miami during a ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Nixa High School offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 ranked high school football recruit for the class of 2026, announced he will play football at Miami during a ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. | Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Miami Hurricanes have landed a monumental commitment from Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. Cantwell, a 6-foot-8, 315-pound OL from Nixa High School in Missouri, announced his decision on Tuesday choosing Miami over powerhouse programs Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State.

Cantwell's commitment is a program-defining victory for head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal. Known for their emphasis on offensive line development, the duo's persistent recruitment efforts played a crucial role in securing Cantwell. Cristobal was seen today excited to hear the news that the Hurricanes locked up the top player in 2026. During his announcement, Cantwell mentioned that he called Cristobal to let him know that he should watch, but didn't elaborate beyond that point and hung up.

Naturally, Miami fans were ecstatic about the biggest commitment in the 2026 class.

During Cantwell's announcement, he emphasized the importance of the coaching staff and how NIL, while still important, was not the most important factor in his decision. Some college football analysts, including J.D. PicKell, argued that the Miami coaching staff is what won out for Cantwell.

"I think relationships won out in the end," Cantwell said. "Coach Mirabal and Coach Cristobal have spent so much time recruiting me over the past year. They've spent so much time checking in with me, texting me every day. We've talked so much about offensive line development and what my potential there is at 'The U'. I just feel like it's a place where I could develop and be something great."

During the announcement, Cantwell also called out On3's Pete Nakos for pushing a false narrative. Many on X and social media seemed skeptical of Cantwell claiming that NIL was not the defining factor.

Most of the skepticism came from fans of the other programs that lost out. Miami fans were quick to point out the recent success of Miami OL.

Cantwell becomes the headliner of Miami's 2026 recruiting class and is expected to be an anchor for the Hurricanes offensive line. His commitment could also have a ripple effect in attracting other top-tier recruits to the program.