It had been nearly a decade since Michigan football stood atop the recruiting mountain and secured the No. 1 recruit in the country. In 2016, they pulled off a major coup by landing Rashan Gary, the nation’s No. 1 recruit out of Paramus Catholic in New Jersey. But it wasn’t until this year, the buzz was back in Ann Arbor after they reeled in Bryce Underwood, the top quarterback in the country. With Underwood’s signature, the maize and blue sent a clear message: the Wolverines are once again a destination for the nation’s elite. And they’re not done yet. Michigan is aiming to go back-to-back with the No. 1 recruit.

Jackson Cantwell, the 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive tackle out of Nixa, Missouri, is the number 1 player in the country for 2026. He has long been pegged to move to the Missouri Tigers, with family ties and in-state appeal tipping the scale. His father, Christian, an Olympic shot putter, is an alumnus of the University of Missouri. In January, On3 gave a 22.3% chance of landing Cantwell, the highest percentage of any school. But we are talking about Sherrone Moore and Michigan here.

LSU fans will need no reminder of how the Wolverines made Underwood flip his commitment to move to Michigan in November. But they are not alone in chasing Cantwell. Dan Lanning’s Oregon and Kirby Smart’s Georgia are also in the race, with Cantwell speaking highly of both programs. While the competition is stiff, Michigan might have its nose in front.

“The big old offensive tackle from Missouri has two teams at the top of his recruiting prediction machine,” adding, “They got—or we have—the recruiting prediction machine has Mizzou at 17% and Michigan at 15%. Do you think that represents his recruitment right now?” Josh Newberg said on On3 Recruits on Friday. However, Chad Simmons flipped the script, shining a light on just how quickly Michigan has closed the gap.

“Yeah, I would say no, Josh. I mean, I think you have to put [Michigan] up there in that top group. I think Michigan definitely is making a surge here. They had him on campus again last week and here recently, and they’re doing a great job.” With the recent developments,  Cantwell is “trending away from the in-state school.” In February, Cantwell narrowed down his choices to six programs, which included Missouri, Michigan, Oregon, Georgia, OSU, and Miami. While he has been full of praise for each program, there have been hints that he sees himself playing under Sherrone Moore.

A couple of weeks ago, he paid a visit to Ann Arbor and enjoyed his time with Coach Moore. “I feel like they could be a long-term fit for me,” Cantwell told Rivals. “The big takeaways were that Michigan develops guys and that they’re gonna win football games every year because of the culture they have,” he added in another interview with On3. With resources that rival the best in college football, Michigan offers a powerhouse program backed by a world-class education and a network that lasts long after the final whistle. When the Wolverines set their sights on a player like Cantwell, pairing their legacy with unmatched opportunities on and off the field, it’s tough for any other program to compete with the allure of the winged helmet. If Cantwell wants it, it’s hard to see any program stopping him from joining Bryce Underwood in Michigan.

Cantwell first paid a visit to Ann Arbor on December 15 and was excited about the history and future of the program. “It’s a program that’s as storied as it gets. They’re known for O-line development. They’re one of those programs you can count on to do that year in, year out, regardless of who’s in there,” he said at that time. Still, other programs remain in the hunt.

“Oregon’s up there. Georgia’s up there. I think obviously the connection to Missouri with his parents, that’s the in-state school. They’re making him a top priority. Right now, I was saying he’s trending away from the in-state school, Missouri, and another school would be higher.” It appears a mix of family roots and national opportunity that’s creating the most intriguing tug-of-war we’ve seen in this cycle. For a player who could be a franchise left tackle by year two in college, every school is adjusting its recruiting boards accordingly.

Then there’s Steve Wiltfong, who added even more fuel to the Georgia buzz. He noted the Dawgs could be emerging as the true leader heading into a summer that could define the Cantwell sweepstakes. “Miami will be as competitive as any program on the NIL front for Cantwell,” Wiltfong said. “Have heard the same about Georgia, who I’d lean towards heading into spring and summer visits.” NIL, coaching pedigree, and player development pipelines are all factored in. Georgia, under Kirby Smart, is stacked with recent O-line NFL alumni. And with their aggressive pitch and proven track record, the Bulldogs can make a compelling case to any trench monster looking to leap to Sundays. But Michigan’s push can’t be underestimated.

Sherrone Moore has shown he can win recruiting battles on the national stage. Just ask Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines are emphasizing development, education, and a beefed-up NIL structure that now lets them punch in the same weight class as SEC titans. When a prospect of Jackson Cantwell’s size and mobility—he moves like a defensive end at times—walks onto your campus twice in quick succession, it’s no accident. There’s something real there.

And let’s not forget: Cantwell’s decision won’t just come down to football. The elite lineman is also one of the country’s top prospects in another sport. That dual-athlete potential makes his recruitment even more layered.

Jackson Cantwell built for Sundays and shot put circles

Cantwell isn’t just dominating on the football field—he’s literally launching himself into national headlines. The No. 1 overall football recruit in the class of 2026 is also the top high school shotput thrower in the country. Yeah, you read that right. The 5-star OT is doing things on both grass and track that most athletes only dream of.

There’s already a full-on tug-of-war brewing where Moores and Lannings are with 30 others in the mix. Staying home would make a ton of sense—after all, he is Missouri through and through, and he’d be joining the legacy of elite in-state talent that’s come before him.

And then there’s the bloodline. Jackson isn’t just some random athletic wonder—he’s the son of two Olympians: Christian Cantwell and Teri Steer-Cantwell. That might explain why he shattered the national sophomore shot put record last season by two full feet, with a ridiculous season-best of 74 feet, 9.75 inches, to take his first at the Missouri state championships and went on to win the Nike Nationals. That’s just 6.5 feet shy of the national record set by the legendary Michael Carter—Olympic medalist, NFL All-Pro, and Super Bowl champ.

Cantwell isn’t just built different. He’s built historic.