One of the most sought-after high school football players in the country is inching closer to his commitment.
Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class, has locked in his official visit schedule.
The can’t-miss five-star offensive lineman will visit Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio State, and Oregon in the coming weeks, while other powerhouse programs – LSU, Nebraska, Alabama, Texas A&M, and USC – just missed the cut.
The Nixa, Missouri, standout took a meticulous approach to narrowing his list.
“Whenever I figured out what schools I wanted to potentially make an official visit, I sat down and was like, ‘what distinguishes these?’,” Cantwell said of his decision process.
“And if I couldn’t think of anything, I was like, ‘well, I’m probably not going to go there.’ I had to just think about all of the schools that I could see myself going. If not, there was no reason to make an official visit.”
Each of Cantwellâs top six schools stood out for a different reason.
-Georgia: A powerhouse known for developing NFL talent.
-Miami: A coaching staff that left a strong impression.
-Michigan: A program with a dominant offensive line history and strong academics.
-Missouri: The home-state school where Cantwell knows heâs a top priority.
-Ohio State: An intriguing situation following changes to its offensive line staff post-national championship.
-Oregon: A connection with head coach Dan Lanning that made a lasting impact.
“When I made my top six, Missouri was probably the safest pick for anyone to guess would be in it. Being the state’s university, I know guys like me are a big priority there,” Cantwell said of the Tigers.
Cantwell also called Ohio Stateâs offensive line situation âinterestingâ given the coaching turnover and expressed excitement about his conversations with Lanning at Oregon.
As the top-ranked recruit in his class, Cantwellâs decision carries significant weight.
Elite offensive linemen serve as the foundation of championship-caliber teams, and his commitment could transform a programâs future.
Missouri offers the appeal of staying home, while bigger programs like Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan provide a proven path to NFL stardom.
Regardless of where he lands, Cantwell will be a major addition to any program. His official visits will be closely followed, and anticipation will only grow as his decision nears.
With top programs still in the mix, the nation will be watching to see where the No. 1 player in 2026 ultimately decides to play.
When it’s all said and done, where do you think Cantwell will end up???
