Today is a big day for Jackson Cantwell, the top football recruit in the country for the 2026 class. The five-star offensive tackle from Nixa, Missouri, will reveal where he plans to play college football this afternoon. His decision will come during a ceremony at the Aetos Center for Performing Arts in his hometown, starting at 2:45 p.m. local time (3:45 p.m. EST).
Cantwell is choosing between four powerhouse programs: Georgia, Miami, Oregon, and Ohio State. Each school has been working hard to land the talented lineman, but recent signs point to Georgia being in a strong position to win his commitment.
Just this past weekend, Cantwell made an unofficial visit to Athens. While there, he spent time with Jared Curtis, Georgia’s five-star quarterback commit. Their meeting has sparked plenty of talk that Cantwell may be leaning toward joining Curtis in Georgia’s 2026 class. The two top prospects even took a photo together, which quickly made the rounds on social media.
Georgia’s coaching staff, led by Kirby Smart, has been pushing hard to add Cantwell to their future offensive line. Their recent recruiting wins, including Curtis and four-star safety Jordan Smith, show they are on a roll. With only nine commits so far in the Class of 2026, Georgia is ranked 6th in the nation in the team recruiting rankings, but the addition of Cantwell, the overall number one player in the nation, would shoot that ranking up dramatically.
Miami has tried to sway Cantwell with a large NIL offer, while Oregon and Ohio State remain serious contenders. Still, Georgia’s combination of player development, program success, and peer recruiting seems to be making a strong impression as the decision nears.
Whichever school Cantwell chooses will be getting a true difference-maker. His commitment will also send a strong message across the college football world and could influence where other top players decide to go.