Jackson Canwell’s recruitment saga has been a rollercoaster over the last few months. The decision-making process for the elite 2026 recruit involved a ruthless competition between three powerhouses, Oregon, Georgia, and Miami. The classic off-field rivalry, in every second, changes its shape as Cantwell isn’t leaving a stone unturned while judging the absolute best for him. It’s becoming a back-and-forth between the schools, one toppling the other at a time and going down the next. Who’s the present flag bearer of the top spot?

In February, Cantwell deemed Oregon’s Dan Lanning as his “favorite” head coach of the recruiting process thus far. In March, he added another workhorse in the equation, posting a few snaps of his parents, highlighting the letters of ‘Ohio’ alongside Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Georgia, a nonchalant frontrunner of the game! Cantwell dished several hints on his interest in the dawgs over the weeks. But guess what, Mario Cristobal is outshining them all in his own right.

According to ON3’s Pete Nakos, they have a lump sum of $2 million ready at hand for 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell in case he succumbs to the lure. “When he put out his original commitment date, I think he was gonna go to Miami,” Steve Wiltfong revealed his early prediction. However, Wiltfong still believes it’s the Dawgs that have a clear edge over Cantwell in the latest developments.

It will be intriguing to see how the OT pans out the rest of his recruiting buzz. The strategic incorporation of $2 million will possibly be a turning point in the process of a final call! Maybe he made up his mind, maybe not. But what’s coming is certainly a shell shock.

Jackson Cantwell seems to be in awe of Miami’s relentless pursuit 

Looking at the monetary front, Miami is plotting the masterstroke. We have seen Bryce Underwood succumb to a $10 million trap of Sherrone Moore even after repeatedly claiming his iron loyalty to LSU and Brian Kelly. Let alone take Carson Beck, who moved on from the Dawgs for $4 million. Believe it or not, but money does its job above and beyond all the other stratagems. But it’s not just the money that’s ticking the clock for the Canes.

The current NIL evaluation for Cantwell stands at $1.5 million according to his On3 profile page. Cantwell has the second-highest NIL evaluation in the 2026 class, after Jared Curtis, who pledged to Georgia a couple of days back. Miami looks to surpass its highest and offer an appealing amount for their safety. Oh! They are not just sitting, chilling, and gathering up the money. They are putting a sincere, holistic effort.

The Nixa, Missouri, native recently took a trip to Coral Gables in mid-March. Miami didn’t let the chance go to vain. To double down on the connection, their offensive line coach, Alex Mirabal, visited Jackson Cantwell in Nixa on May 4. One of the most lofty positions, coaches and a lineage of protégés added a new layer to their pursuit. Visiting and analyzing Cantwell at his place screams how badly they want the kid around.

The subtle message didn’t go unnoticed by the standout OT. “I’ll be honest, Miami is recruiting me the hardest right now,” Jackson Cantwell told CaneSport Miami following Alex Mirabal’s surprise visit. “Obviously, that’s not the end-all be-all, but there’s something to be said for that,” Cantwell continued. “I hear from Coach Cristobal every day. I hear from Coach Mirabal every day.” The effort seems to pay off big, with the money backing it up. Oregon and Georgia, better luck next time!