No school is in doubt when it comes to Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class. And why not? He has got genes that any coach can dream of. The Nixa product, nicknamed “Mr. Olympics” is the son of former USA Olympians Christian and Teri (Steer) Cantwell. Christian is a five-time world champion and won a silver medal in the shot put at the 2008 Beijing Games and in 2004 had the top four shot put throws in the world. Teri participated in the 2000 Sydney games and was a two-time NCAA shot put champion at SMU. Nixa coach John Perry is in awe of Cantwell.

“It’s pretty amazing. He has not only been blessed genetically from his height. But he’s also been blessed with parents who have put a work ethic in him to where he likes to work out and get stronger. He likes to be better than he was the day before and everybody doesn’t have that,” the coach had said to Springfield News-Leader. As a validation of his athleticism, let’s tell you that he also excels in shotput like his parents. He had one of the top 20 throws amongst all high schoolers in 2023. Cantwell also scored a 33 on the ACT – when he was a freshman. No wonder his scouting report only had good things things to say.

“Big-framed offensive tackle with eye-popping athleticism and functional strength as a high school underclassman. Measured at over 6-foot-7, 205 pounds prior to his sophomore season. Has solid length with 33.5-inch arms and big hands. Owns a phenomenal athletic profile as one of the top shot put throwers in the country for his age group,” the report outlined. With such a profile, it is obvious that powerhouse programs will practically throw scholarships at your feet. But looks like Cantwell now has the problem of plenty.

It’s more like a puzzle with too many right answers. Everyone wants a piece of him—Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Missouri, Ohio State, and Oregon. But here’s the kicker: Cantwell can’t seem to pick just one. He has visited all six of his finalists, and not a single one has separated itself from the pack. Cantwell has the programs going back and forth like it’s a heavyweight fight, each trying to land the biggest offensive lineman in the 2026 class. “That’s the problem, everyone does everything so well.” Jackson said when asked about ‘why there’s no leader’ program. “I wish I had a leader,” he said.

Cantwell made late-November visits to Michigan and Ohio State, and both left a lasting impact. “I had a lot of fun at Michigan and Ohio State,” Cantwell admitted. “Those are just two great places. I learned a lot from talking ba-l with the coaches at Michigan, and I got to learn a lot more about the program at Ohio State.” Both schools are literally known for churning out NFL-caliber linemen, so it’s no surprise they’re putting in overtime to land this generational talent.

Then there’s Oregon…

“The Ducks are winning lots of football games and have two of my favorite coaches with their HC and position coach,” Cantwell had said to On3. Moreover, he has built an especially strong connection with head coach Dan Lanning and offensive line coach A’lique Terry. “A’lique Terry has done a fantastic job building those guys up on the offensive line. They coach about as well as anybody. I think Dan Lanning (Kansas City native) is one of the most likable dudes in college football right now as far as college football goes.”

“I can confirm he’s like that all the time. He’s just a great dude. He knows a lot of guys in our Missouri area, in Southwest Missouri. I get to talk to him a lot and I’ve really enjoyed building that relationship,” he said. And let’s not ignore the Nike influence. With Phil Knight being one of Oregon’s most powerful boosters, the Ducks have an unspoken edge when it comes to branding, NIL opportunities, and elite-level facilities. Meanwhile, Missouri will also have a strong bearing on his decision because of personal ties with the school.

“There’s only really two schools I have a lot of ties to and my dad went to Missouri so that’d be the other one,” Cantwell had said. There is one more reason why he can not ignore this school. “It’s really tough to get away from Missouri because they put such a huge emphasis on in-state guys. That’s their biggest recruiting priority right now,” he said. “Coach [Eli] Drinkwitz wants to get in-state guys. Try to make it tough as possible for guys to leave the state.”

Yeah, sounds like a good problem to have with National Signing Day creeping up. And with a $113 billion empire putting Jackson into the spotlight, the stakes just got even higher.

The $113 billion X-Factor: How Nike’s influence changes everything

Jackson Cantwell is set to represent the Kansas City Chiefs at Nike’s “The Next Ones” combine ahead of Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. This event is a big deal, bringing together elite high school talent and giving them direct exposure to NFL legends. “Had a blast representing Missouri and the @Chiefs this weekend with the @usnikefootball Next Ones event! Very thankful for @Stumpf_Brian and the rest of the crew for putting it on for us. #NSGB,” Cantwell had written about it.

The $113 billion worth Nike’s presence in this event is a not-so-subtle reminder of the brand’s influence in college football, and let’s be real—Oregon benefits from that more than anyone.

For a recruit like Cantwell, who already has the spotlight on him, this connection could tip the scales in the Ducks’ favor. The opportunity to be part of a program with unlimited marketing potential, top-tier development, and a direct pipeline to the league? Yeah, that’s hard to ignore.

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess where Cantwell will end up. Every program has rolled out the red carpet, every coach has made their pitch, and yet he remains undecided. The pressure is mounting, and with National Signing Day slowly creeping, all eyes are on the 6-foot-7, 305-pound phenom.

One thing’s for sure—whoever lands Cantwell isn’t just getting a future first-rounder. They’re getting a game-changer, both on and off the field. And right now, the entire college football world is waiting to see where this domino falls.