On Jackson Cantwell...

DMoney

May 13, 2025 2 min read

This was a statement. It's been a couple years since Mario and Mirabal won a true recruiting battle. People were starting to whisper. Today was a reminder.

I've been following recruiting for 25 years, and it's hard to believe Miami went into Nixa, Missouri to land a five-star OT. It wasn't an emotional decision, either. Cantwell did his homework. He knew every starter on Miami's OL and their projected draft position. The Canes were the logical choice, and it's been a while since we could say that.

As a prospect, Cantwell is unique. He's 6'7 and 310 pounds at 16 years old. He has 33.5-inch arms, good testing numbers, and superhuman strength. For perspective, Jalen Rivers won states in the shotput with a throw of 54'4. Cantwell's personal record is 73'6. He also benches 500. In the classroom, he scored a 33 ACT as an eighth grader.

We know the bloodline is special. Both his parents are Olympic throwers. While Jackson is long and lean like a basketball player, his silver-medalist father is built like a professional wrestler. There is still plenty of room for him to add mass.

I expect Cantwell to compete for the RT job in 2026. He's raw as a pass blocker and struggled some at the Under Armour game. But he's such a diligent worker that I expect him to perfect his technique. He reminds me of some of the Iowa first rounders. Tall, lean, technical, and strong. The separator is his ability to move people with raw power.

Cantwell was set to commit to Miami in April before he pushed his date back. Miami has been telling people Georgia for the past week, but as I wrote this AM, something felt off. The staff kept the decision under wraps until an hour before the announcement.

Miami will take this momentum and push even harder in recruiting. We just produced the #1 pick in the draft and landed the #1 player in the country. Now it's time to get the elite South Florida recruits in Derrek Cooper and Calvin Russell.

More than anything, I just want to congratule Jackson Cantwell for his decision. He could've chosen Georgia or Oregon and nobody would've blinked an eye. He chose to be different and become a Hurricane. His faith will be rewarded.

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Comments (228)

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305 MOUNTAIN MAN

May 14, 2025

I stated this before and will say it again. Recruiting is SALES 101. The prospect has to buy YOU. That is exactly what’s happened here. This kid bought Mario and Mirabal - this speaks volumes, it can’t be stated enough. GO CANES !

404Usernamenotfound

May 14, 2025

@DMoney any insight as to why Miami was telling people Georgia, and then why release it 1 hour before the annoucement?

H
HurricanePhilly

May 14, 2025

I think when almost all things are equal and we are just lacking the winning big piece. Mario makes kids feel like they are wanted. Its very personal. Parents feel comfortable knowing this is the best situation for my child as a person.

B
BoxingRobes

May 14, 2025

Joe Thomas was a shot put thrower. Lane Johnson. Brandon Scherff was a 60+ foot thrower.

Tons of future Top 10 picks were shot put or discus throwers in HS. Bodes well for this freak.

Cane6

May 14, 2025

@DMoney happy birthday my man

Welcome to the 40 club

Kansas Cane

May 14, 2025

Has the freakish size of Markel Bell but has Marc Henry strength.

Wow!!!!

JG13

May 14, 2025

Bender said:
Oh yeah, the team with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, the two best tackles in professional football who were moved to the interior and not Mekhi Becton, who was slow, overweight and couldn't get out of his stance quick enough to be a tackle.

If we have a three star tackle being moved to guard because something in his game is off, I'd consider it an accurate comparison. This board wanted to move All-ACC tackle and 5th round pick Jalen Rivers, All-ACC tackle and projected first round pick Francis Mauigoa and now the 3rd overall player in the country and NUMBER ONE TACKLE PROSPECT to guard.

Having great to elite tackles in college football is a luxury very very few teams have, we have the luxury that we have fairly consistent production in that area over the past couple of seasons and the one response on here from that is that we should've moved all of them to guard.

What the ****.

TE is his natural position obviously

Zombie-Cane

May 14, 2025

In before the "can we move him to DT until he is ready for OT" crowd shows up, seeing as the OG crowd showed up first........never change CIS, never!

CDWright40

May 14, 2025

Only canes fans land the number one OT in the country who has the most elite tackle traits and then suggesting moving him to guard.

BALLHAWKU

May 14, 2025

I can’t wait to see him pancake fsu lbs

Arehel

May 14, 2025

BoxingRobes said:
Joe Thomas was a shot put thrower. Lane Johnson. Brandon Scherff was a 60+ foot thrower.

Tons of future Top 10 picks were shot put or discus throwers in HS. Bodes well for this freak.

It's perfect for initial hip explosion, which bodes well for the position.
Its the inherent position of the most explosion athletic position.

My guess is Jackson Cantwell, due to the above, any sport he would participate in, he'd be a high level athlete, from basketball, volleyball, Olympic lifting, bobsledding etc.

I think based on his measurables and outside athletic measurable, he's highest ceiling is at RT and may be able to play LT, but he could be a pro bowl type RT, while an all ACC LT. Either one ain't too bad. Just at LT he'll need some seasoning.

HurricanesR1

May 14, 2025

P-Tizzle said:
6’7 310 isn’t the size of a basketball player

Zion Williamson.....

bobbydigius

May 14, 2025

BoxingRobes said:
Joe Thomas was a shot put thrower. Lane Johnson. Brandon Scherff was a 60+ foot thrower.

Tons of future Top 10 picks were shot put or discus throwers in HS. Bodes well for this freak.

Functional strength and violent hands are really really important for OL. **** look at Samson, dude looks like he was created in a lab and those videos of his footwork was some of the most impressive ive seen. Yet he lacked the functional strength and hasnt been able to break through yet.

TheOriginalCane

May 14, 2025

Bender said:
WHY
IN THE FLYING ****
DO PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD
HAVE THE CONSTANT OBSESSION
OF MOVING TACKLES TO THE INTERIOR

I can't give this post enough 100's.

We have a bunch of fans who learned how to play football on a video game platform. They think they have genius ideas on position switches, and they just sound like idiots.

Let the coaches do their jobs. Good lord...

ZeroBeachCane3

May 14, 2025

TheOriginalCane

May 14, 2025

252cane said:
Big commitment for a ton of reasons. I think I would start Cantwell out at guard if he can play it. I think his power and run blocking would benefit him there while he develops his pass pro

It's nothing personal, but we have to stop this kind of thinking.

We are spending a bunch of money to build an ENTIRE offensive line, and now we are talking about putting a true freshman at guard over more established guys? WHY?

If there's an injury later in the season, fine, I'll listen to logic and reason. But now? WHY?

TheOriginalCane

May 14, 2025

cowboycane said:
It’s a fair point but also, counterpoint: the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles

So, you're suggesting that a college roster of 18 and 19 year olds (and Cantwell will be 17) is comparable to NFL roster-building?

Sure. Sure...

252cane

May 14, 2025

TheOriginalCane said:
It's nothing personal, but we have to stop this kind of thinking.

We are spending a bunch of money to build an ENTIRE offensive line, and now we are talking about putting a true freshman at guard over more established guys? WHY?

If there's an injury later in the season, fine, I'll listen to logic and reason. But now? WHY?

Who will be the established guards next year? Cooper gone. Isn’t Rodriguez gone? McCoy a sr right?