On Wednesday Jackson Cantwell, the Hurricanes' five-star offensive tackle signee was named the 2025-26 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, the top individual honor in high school football and a trophy often dubbed the "High School Heisman."
Former Cleveland Browns and Wisconsin star Joe Thomas, now a Pro Football Hall of Famer, surprised Cantwell with the award during a ceremony at Nixa High School.
WHY NOT? https://t.co/RZyskbDTpm
— Jackson Cantwell (@jcantwell2499) December 11, 2025
OT Jackson Cantwell: Gatorade National Football Player of the Year
Thomas has a long relationship with Cantwell's family, dating back to his admiration for Jackson's father, Olympic shot put silver medalist Christian Cantwell, and the two linemen have gotten to know each other in recent years.
Past national football winners include Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith, Kyler Murray, and together Gatorade's national football honorees have combined for more than six NFL MVP awards, 31 Pro Bowl appearances, seven first-round picks and two Hall of Famers. That's pretty good company for Cantwell who looks he'll be playing on Sundays in about three to four years.
Cantwell is also a national champion thrower who has broken age-group shot put and discus records, and won multiple Missouri Gatorade track and field Player of the Year awards. He is the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class according to On3, and the No. 4 overall player and top offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite.
Cantwell is the first lineman to win the Gatorade national football award since 2013. He's the second Miami signee to earn the honor, joining former five-star quarterback Kyle Wright (2003), while past winners Brock Berlin and Tate Martell also eventually played for the Hurricanes after transferring from other schools.
Cantwell committed to Miami on May 13, 2025, choosing the Hurricanes over Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State. And it looks like they have a potential superstar on their hands.