Miami leads with huge NIL offer for top 2026 prospect Jackson Cantwell

Miami has the top Name, Image and Likeness offer at $2 million for top 2026 recruit Jackson Cantwell, per On3 reporter Pete Nakos in an X post on Wednesday. On3 Recruits followed Nakos' initial reporting that Miami had the highest offer with the question, "But will it matter?"

The NIL evaluation for Cantwell is $1.5 million per his On3 profile page. Cantwell has the second-highest NIL evaluation in the 2026 class, behind quarterback Jared Curtis, who committed to Georgia on Monday. Curtis has a $2.6 million NIL evaluation per his On3 profile page.

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine projects Cantwell and Curtis to be college teammates. Georgia is the prohibitive favorite with a 73.7 percent chance for a commitment from Cantwell. The projection that Cantwell will commit to Georgia is probably why Nakos asked if it mattered that Miami has the highest NIL offer for him.

Cantwell is scheduled to announce his collegiate commitment on May 13. Georgia has hosted Cantwell five times and Miami three, per On3. Miami is a distant second to Georgia in the projections for a Cantwell commitment, with a 9.3 percent chance for the top prospects in the 2026 class.

Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck currently has the highest NIL on Miami at $4.3. Entering his final season of collegiate eligibility, Beck will spend only one season with Miami. Defensive lineman Rueben Bain and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, who are entering their junior seasons are second and third on Miami in NIL, per On3.

Defensive tackle Justin Scott, who is currently listed fifth on Miami in NIL evaluation, is the highest projected player for the Hurricanes who would be expected to be on the 2026 roster. Cantwell would likely be one of the highest-paid players on Miami as a true freshman in 2026.