Jackson Cantwell is nearing the end of his recruiting saga, with his decision date billed for May 13. The 6 ft 8 offensive tackle from Nixa, Missouri, was juggling his options between the SEC Champion Georgia, Miami, Oregon, and Ohio State after prolonged scrutiny. Each of these powerhouse programs has gone all in to snag him. Mario Cristobal reportedly tried their luck with a massive NIL check of over $2 million. Dan Lanning, on the other hand, made a lucrative case during Cantwell’s visit to Eugene this summer (on April 26-27). However, as the latest tweet says, the ball leans towards Kirby Smart and Jared Curtis as of now.

Cantwell took a trip to Athens this weekend, and it’s safe to say, it has hit the mark. Smart and his staff successfully made a strong impression on their elite QB target. This morning, Jackson posted a picture from the patio of a swank dining hall in the Peach State.  The five-star QB and recent Georgia commit, Jared Curtis, posed for a picture together, like the next dynamic quarterback duo in the Dawgs camp. The caption reads, “JC x JC?”. Curtis reposted the image, tagging Cantwell and adding fuel to Georgia fans’ hopes. It’s clear the two top-tier prospects are vibing. So, Athens may just be where their paths officially link up.

Are you looking for hints? Well, you don’t need to. It’s out there, loud and clear. The next stop is Georgia. Smart has been a long player in Cantwell’s recruitment. Georgia offered Cantwell a scholarship back in July 2023 while attending a summer camp in Athens. Since then, the five-star asset has taken numerous trips to Athens, and each time, he walked away from the city with a smile.

“They’ve had many first-round (NFL Draft) tackles over the last couple of years. You don’t want to think going in, ‘Oh, I’m going to the NFL,’ but like everybody that starts at Georgia, ends up in the NFL at some point. I just like the Athens area,” the Georgia key target reasoned his favor for the Dawgs, ” My mom lived down there for a couple of years when she was training.”

The peach state’s long-standing pursuit has paid well. Not only did he visit Athens multiple times. In January, Coach Smart and offensive line coach Stacy Searels even paid a surprise visit to Nixa, showing just how serious Georgia is about him.

Jackson Cantwell has strong familial ties in the area as well. His mom, Teri Cantwell (formerly Steer), was trained in Georgia as an Olympian. So, everything looks on point for Smart at the moment, although it would be wise to hold your breath till May 13. After all, any last-minute bombshell is not foreign in the college football recruitment stamp, especially given how the big money has a role to play.

Miami is pushing its limits at the last hour 

The NIL evaluation for Jackson Cantwell currently stands at $1.5 million per his On3 profile page. The amount marks the highest NIL evaluation in the 2026 class, behind quarterback Jared Curtis, his Twitter buddy at the moment. And guess what, Miami wants to topple that money gap with a whopping $2 million cap. Despite not getting another visit before Cantwell’s decision, the Hurricanes are not leaving any stone unturned.

“I’ll be honest, Miami is recruiting me the hardest right now,” Jackson Cantwell told CaneSport Miami following Alex Mirabal’s visit. “Obviously, that’s not the end-all be-all, but there’s something to be said for that,” Cantwell left the door open for further anticipation while voicing his deep contentment with the Canes’ consistent moves. “I hear from Coach Cristobal every day. I hear from Coach Mirabal every day.”

But Miami didn’t stop there. They are lobbying their way into the race via the former legend RB Jarrett Payton. Payton, a celebrated running back during the late 90s, came to Cristobal’s safe, urging Cantwell online to sign in. Vernon Carey Sr., a former No.1 offensive lineman, also followed suit.

It’s becoming a nail-biting thriller conclusion for Cantwell, but he has to make a call. And for the rest of us? Waiting with bated breath to count the score between the Dawgs and Canes.