Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class, has made his highly anticipated college commitment – and he’s not letting rumors define his story.
On Tuesday, the 6-foot-8, 315-pound lineman out of Nixa High School in Missouri announced he is heading to the University of Miami.
However, the moment wasn’t just about announcing his decision – it was also about setting the record straight.
In recent days, speculation swirled around Cantwell’s recruitment, particularly claims that his choice was driven by a rumored $2 million NIL offer from Miami.
The story, first reported by On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos, drew heavy attention and criticism. Cantwell, however, wasted no time responding directly.
“Well, I think my response to it is it’s not the same narrative people like Pete Nakos are pushing right now,” Cantwell said.
“I think there’s just a false narrative that that’s why I’m choosing. And I think that, I mean, I think relationships won out in Miami.”
Cantwell has been heavily pursued by national powers such as Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, and Michigan, in addition to his home-state Missouri Tigers.
His imposing frame and elite talent made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the country – and a key player in the high-stakes world of modern NIL-driven recruiting.
Yet, Cantwell insists that NIL wasn’t the deciding factor.
“They spent the most time with me. They put the most effort into recruiting me,” he said of the Hurricanes.
“I’ve got a lot of skin in the game with all these schools as far as getting represented by Drew [Rosenhaus] and making sure of them to be fairly compensated.”
While Cantwell acknowledged NIL discussions were part of the process – as they now are for virtually every high-profile recruit – he was adamant that his decision came down to trust and consistency.
“I think every school’s done a good job with that and been accommodating. Anyone who would say otherwise about how I’ve done my recruitment has been just misled,” he said.
Cantwell’s decision adds another major piece to Miami’s offensive future, especially as the Hurricanes continue investing heavily in talent.
Fair or not, many college football fans took to social media to let it be known that they weren’t quite buying Cantwell’s reasoning for choosing Miami…
As college football continues to evolve with Name, Image and Likeness deals now part of everyday recruiting, Cantwell’s story reflects the tension between perception and reality.
While NIL certainly plays a role, Cantwell reminds us that relationships, effort, and authenticity still matter – even in a multimillion-dollar landscape.
What are your thoughts on Cantwell choosing Miami over SEC and Big Ten powers? … Are you buying his reasoning for picking the Canes???
