The No. 1 rated recruit nationally in the class of ‘26, Jackson Cantwell, is close to a decision. He was initially going to announce his commitment on April 30th. But that didn’t transpire, and there’s still a handful of schools tussling for his services. Oregon is in pursuit after losing the battle with Georgia or Jared Curtis, and it seems the four-star quarterback isn’t done hurting the Ducks further. According to reports, Curtis is “eager to take on a recruiting role” to convince Cantwell to pick the Bulldogs. While it remains to be seen whether he will be successful in his attempts, Miami is another candidate to watch out for.

Since Cantwell named them in his exclusive shortlist of possible landing spots, Miami has reciprocated this love with its unwavering efforts. The Nixa, Missouri, native made a trip to Coral Gables in mid-March. To return the favor, Miami’s offensive line coach, Alex Mirabal, visited Jackson Cantwell in Nixa on May 4. Mirabal is unequivocally one of the premier O-line coaches in the country. His track record of developing the position and lineage of protégés speaks for itself. It was a power move to visit Jackson Cantwell at this juncture when his recruitment was still in the balance, and it seems this move might have paid off big time for Cristobal and Miami.

In the aftermath of this visit, the pièce de résistance of this recruiting class spoke about where the program stands in his estimation and their chances. 

“I’ll be honest, Miami is recruiting me the hardest right now,” Jackson Cantwell told CaneSport Miami after Alex Mirabal’s in-home 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.”

His comments imply Miami isn’t just making up the numbers in Cantwell’s 4-school shortlist. They’re really a top contender in this race. A race that also includes bluebloods, Georgia. A modern dynasty synonymous with success this decade. As well as another en route to that moniker and status in Oregon. But it appears that Miami is making inroads.

 “I think the general vibe I’m getting is that their program wants to invest a lot in me, wants to invest time and effort…They think I’m a high priority there. A guy that can play early and fit in their system. They’re willing to pour a lot into me as a player and as a person. So there’s a lot to take from that, for sure,” he added. Cantwell knows and understands that at Miami, he could start early and might even be a day one starter.

Cristobal, a former offensive lineman himself, has built a reputation as one of the premier developers of offensive line talent in college football. His track record includes producing first-round NFL draft picks like Cam Robinson and Jonah Williams. Under his leadership, Miami has seen true freshmen like Francis Mauigoa and Anez Cooper step into starting roles, highlighting Cristobal’s commitment to nurturing young talent.

Miami’s offensive line is poised for turnover, with potential departures creating openings for new talent. The Hurricanes have already demonstrated a willingness to start freshmen, as seen with Mauigoa and Cooper. This environment could provide Cantwell with a clearer path to immediate playing time compared to programs with more entrenched lineups.

Highlighting this, Cantwell remarked, “Mario Cristobal has coached a lot of guys that play early. He’s very open to it. They prioritize O-line development. They’re the only program left in [the reckoning] for me that has an O-line guy as their head coach. So I know they will prioritize that.”

It does seem Miami has made one thing apparent to Cantwell in their recruiting pitch: Pick us and you’ll start from the jump. Conventional wisdom suggests it’s ideal for a lineman coming out of high school to sit out a year and get prepared physically. But Cantwell doesn’t resonate with convention. He projects as someone who’s ready to protect the quarterback from Day 1.

While he seems satisfied with what Miami has to offer, Oregon remains in the picture, and he still has a visit pending to Georgia. “That’s something I feel good about with Miami and Oregon and we’re going to see Georgia one more time, and then I’m going to make my decision on the 13th and I’m not going to look back,” he said. It appears he is far from a final decision at the moment.

In light of these comments, Miami insider Alex Donno and recruiting expert Brian Smith delved into what they made of them. Alongside the overall dynamic of this recruitment. 

Insiders dissect Jackson Cantwell’s comments after Alex Mirabal’s in-home visit

Guesting on the “Locked on Canes” podcast, Brian Smith said, “The interesting part is that [Alex] Mirabal, unlike most O-line coaches, can actually recruit. Most of them just don’t have the personality to do it. Alex does. So I’m curious how much you move the needle with his in-home [visit]. If Miami does sign Jackson Cantwell, I think that’ll be the key. Mirabal is probably one of the top five or so O-line recruiters in the country. Kids just seem to gravitate to him.”

Smith also aired caution around Georgia. Cantwell has an unofficial visit to Athens in the pipeline on May 10th. He’s supposed to announce his commitment on May 13th. So the late nature of this makes Smith wary of Miami’s position in the hierarchy. He also said Cantwell would likely plug in at right tackle instantly if, indeed, Cantwell picks them.

Alex Donno, reacting to Jackson Cantwell’s aforementioned comments, said, “It sounds to me like Cantwell has a really good idea of what Miami is going to offer him from a development standpoint. I think the ball  is in Cantwell’s court. He’s going to have to decide if Oregon or Georgia gives him a better opportunity.”

There’s a ton of ambiguity around Jackson Cantwell’s recruitment. Pushing his announcement from April 30th to May 13th has only increased the fervor around him. We shall find out whether Alex Mirabal getting feet on the ground really did make a difference in the grand scheme of things.