College football is gearing up for an intense battle, with Jackson Cantwell leading the way. The five-star offensive tackle isn’t just casually visiting schools – he’s making his top-listed programs, Michigan, Ohio State, and Miami, nervous. While these schools are all vying to secure Cantwell’s commitment, there’s a twist – Cantwell may already have a favorite in mind. And the other schools are just playing catch-up before his crucial visits.

It looks like Ohio State is up for another win but on the recruiting front. Well, Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, is in the thick of his recruitment process, and Ohio State just got a major boost in his considerations. Cantwell’s got three big unofficial visits coming up: Miami (March 17-18), Ohio State (March 20-21), and Michigan (March 22). But he’s focused on his Ohio State trip. That’s alarming news for Michigan and Miami.

Cantwell’s Ohio State visit is a big deal—his first time meeting OL coach Justin Frye’s replacement, unlike his Miami and Michigan trips, which focused on coaching styles. Meeting Tyler Bowen is something Cantwell is excited about as he talks about it to On3, “This is probably a big visit for me because I’ll get to meet coach Bowen and the other assistants in person for the first time. I will also get to learn about those coaches. Then watching the team practice will be instrumental to see if/when an official visit could be.” 

Can you really blame him? During his time at Fordham, Bowen’s offense operated like a well-oiled machine. His team led the Patriot League and ranked fourth in FCS, averaging 498.2 yards and 40.1 points per game. They excelled in the ground game as well, averaging 229.7 rushing yards, ranking 12th in FCS. Bowen wasn’t just calling plays; he was constructing a powerhouse offense.

However, Ohio State is not the only place that can lead him. Cantwell is gearing up for a series of official visits, starting with Miami on May 9, followed by Mizzou on May 31, Ann Arbor on June 13, and Eugene on June 20. Given his roots at Mizzou, the Tigers might have an advantage in securing Mission Cantwell.

But here’s the kicker. During a 247Sports interview, he admitted his deep affection for Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines. And Cantwell sounded confident while saying, “A lot of the reasons I like Ann Arbor is they are producing O-linemen year after year now. If you look at the draft portal from last year, there were six O-linemen.” It’s a straight fact. Moore’s 2025 class already includes two five-star offensive tackles: Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood.

Even Miami makes a strong presence in Cantwell’s eyes as he says, “I’m looking to see how much I’d like living and playing football in Coral Gables. I want to see how I’d like playing for the coaches there by watching how they coach in the spring.”  Looks like it all depends on the spring game for now. But let’s not just sleep into that, as there’s another program that might have an edge over the rest.

Dan Lanning eyeing on Michigan, Miami and Ohio State’s top recruit

Oregon had a tough time getting top recruits from the South because the SEC and Big 12 were dominating. But Dan Lanning’s changing all that. His Southern connections could’ve been what got Jackson Cantwell interested. As Cantwell put it, “I think my favorite head coach still to this day has been Dan Lanning. I think everyone can understand. Great guy. Missouri guy.” It looks like Lanning might be a tough competitor for the rest of the three!

Meanwhile, some big-name programs came up empty. Nebraska, LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, and USC all wanted Cantwell, but he didn’t visit any of them. Now they’re on the outside looking in, and it stings. And it’s no surprise why the hype around Cantwell is sky-high. He is not only a standout football prospect but also an all-around athlete. In 2023-24, he was honored with the Gatorade Missouri Boys Track & Field Player of the Year award for his exceptional performance in the shot put.

Athletic success seems to be a family tradition as his father, Christian Cantwell, is a five-time shot put world champion and an Olympic medalist. At the same time, his mother, Terri Cantwell, participated in the Sydney Olympics and secured two NCAA shot put titles at SMU. For Jackson, selecting a college is not just about football but also about continuing a legacy of excellence.