Nixa has become a hotspot for college football’s elite, all chasing one name—Jackson Cantwell, a 5-star offensive tackle. At 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, the top 2026 offensive tackle is a must-have recruit. After leading Nixa to a Class 6 runner-up finish, he trimmed his list to 14 powerhouse programs. But the race isn’t over. Cantwell plans to narrow it down even further in the coming months. And his latest update? It’s got OSU’s Ryan Day on high alert.

However, over the past 2 weeks, Cantwell’s family, and John Perry, Eagles coach, have met with top HCs and assistants from his elite list of schools. But one visit stood out—Ryan Day. Fresh off a national championship win, the Ohio State coach made Cantwell his first stop before visiting anywhere else. Alongside O-line coach Justin Frye, Day wasted no time making his pitch. And following that, Cantwell took to social media to share the moment—and the buzz is real.

Cantwell’s message said it all: “Thank you to @ryandaytime for coming to Nixa, MO before seeing any other schools!” With OSU’s national championship in the rearview, Cantwell made sure to give Day and Coach Frye some serious love. But here’s the twist – OSU’s rivals have been giving Day a hard time. Jackson Cantwell’s latest update on his recruitment has everyone guessing what’s next for the five-star OT. The race is heating up, and the competition’s fierce.

Cantwell isn’t just keeping OSU on their toes—he’s got Michigan in the mix, too. On X, he shared, “Thank you to @grant_newsome for coming through Nixa today!” Grant Newsome, Michigan’s O-line coach, made his pitch, and it looks like the Wolverines are making a serious play. With the 5-star OT caught between two CFB powerhouses, Michigan’s bid could make this race even more interesting. Looks like Ryan Day has some serious competition on his hands.

But it’s not just Ohio State and Michigan in the mix—Jackson Cantwell’s list includes several other heavy hitters.

Who’s on Jackson Cantwell’s radar?

Programs like Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Clemson are also vying to land this 5-star offensive tackle in the 2026 class. According to the most recent story, Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry made a quick stop on Monday night after Georgia HC Kirby Smart and OL coach Stacy Searels landed Monday morning. However, this was Searels’ second visit to Cantwell in as many days.

And following that, Cantwell tweeted, “Thank you to @KirbySmartUGA and @SSearels for stopping in today! #NSGB #GoDawgs.” However, Cantwell’s been keeping his cards close to the chest.

Spotted rocking Georgia and Missouri gear for one campaign and then switching it up with Nebraska and Oregon swag at a Thursday night game—he’s playing it smart. So, which program will come out on top? The victorious school will not just get a 5-star offensive tackle—they’ll score a game-changing force on the line for years to come.

Right now, let’s see what happens when Cantwell’s hiring process is over.