Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs appeared to be in the driver’s seat for the nation’s top 2026 recruit — until they weren’t.
After months of recruitment, six visits to Athens, and a growing sense of momentum, five-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell stunned the college football world on Tuesday by committing to the University of Miami.
The decision caught Georgia’s staff off guard and marked one of the most surprising flips in recent memory.
Cantwell, a Missouri native, had been closely linked with Georgia throughout his recruitment.
But a key development may have tipped the scales: his recent signing with high-profile sports agent Drew Rosenhaus.
According to reports, Cantwell also secured a Name, Image, and Likeness deal valued at over $2 million from Miami – a figure that likely influenced his final decision.
Speaking to reporters at a charity golf tournament in Hoover, Alabama, Smart addressed the commitment for the first time, expressing his frustration with the unpredictable nature of recruiting in the NIL era.
“Nobody really knows what’s accurate,” Smart told CBS Sports. “A lot of schools are approaching it in different ways. We hear something different from every school. So I don’t think anybody really knows.”
Smart, who has built Georgia into a powerhouse with two national titles and perennial SEC dominance, has typically leaned on development and NFL preparation as key selling points – a blueprint inspired by his former mentor, Nick Saban.
But in today’s landscape, financial offers often speak louder than long-term vision.
Cantwell’s commitment marks the latest in a string of tough recruiting losses for Georgia. In 2023, five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola gave his verbal to the Bulldogs before flipping to Nebraska late in the cycle.
And last season, in-state safety Caleb Downs – raised just 50 miles from Athens – helped lead Ohio State to a national championship after choosing the Buckeyes over Georgia in the transfer portal.
Still, Smart has maintained a stronghold on elite talent. Georgia’s 2025 recruiting class remains among the nation’s best, and the Bulldogs are widely expected to continue competing for both SEC and national titles in the years ahead.
While Cantwell’s choice may sting, Smart and his staff are already pivoting – a necessity in the ever-evolving world of college football recruiting, where loyalty is often trumped by money and uncertainty reigns.
For now, Georgia must grapple with the reality that even the most promising relationships can unravel in a matter of days, especially when millions of dollars are in play.
What are your thoughts on Cantwell’s surprising decision and Kirby’s response to it???
