One thing that we learned about Dan Lanning during his run for the Ducks is that he is good at recruiting. Of course, you can look at his undefeated record during the 2024 regular season. However, a lot of the success is built on the back of Oregon’s recruiting. No. 3 ranked class in 2024, followed by a No. 5 ranked class in 2025. Lanning has been instrumental in making any newbie his ultimate admirer with just a couple of visits. His effective NIL utilization strategy or the relationship-building narrative appeals the most to the recruits, building an optimistic trajectory for the Ducks franchise. However, Jackson Cantwell, a 6′ 8″ player from Missouri, is posing a significant challenge in the face of intensifying competition. The latest intel drop in his recruitment saga drops a calculative bombshell on Lanning and his staff. Who took away the cake?

After Cantwell rescheduled his commitment to April 30, just a few days after he fixed his visit to Eugene to attend their annual spring game, it seemed that Lanning already had the ball in his court. Although Ohio State and Miami made a late push, Oregon remains on the watch. Visiting the Pacific Northwest while competing in the Nike Nationals track and field event, the sophomore shot put champion became overwhelmed by the Ducks’ treatment and the culture of loyalty they fostered around them. “To quote my dad, ‘Dan Lanning could probably sell ice to an Eskimo,”  the 5-star prospect voiced out his love and respect for Coach Lanning right after the visit.

But never doubt the volatility of the recruiting pitch of a talent in the backdrop of an NIL-dominated era. Things show up, dance in the air, and change in form before you blink. On Wednesday, Cantwell announced that he was rescheduling his commitment to May 13 and would instead investigate Athens and coach Kirby Smart. Could the Dawgs have gained an advantage over the Ducks? It’s still too early to ascertain. But his recruitment took another turn on Thursday as On3’s Steve Wiltfong pulled an expert prediction for Cantwell to commit to Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs pretty soon.

Cantell told Wiltfong, “There is a lot to like about Georgia… the coaching situation is great. I like the development…and they win a lot of football games.” On May 10, Cantwell will step into Athens on an unofficial visit. Smart and his squad will be on their toes to make no mistake that can cost them their chance after a back-and-forth push. So far, it’s not the end of the world for Lanning and Cristobal, but the renewed emphasis on Georgia certainly hints at something fishy. You can’t unsee the intensity behind his decisions, reading between the lines.

“Georgia has always been one of Cantwell’s favorites, and pre-NIL, they would’ve been extremely tough to beat because of the relationship with Coach (Stacy) Searels, Coach (Kirby) Smart, the track record of development, the consistency of championship-level football,” the ON3 journalist added to his bombastic prediction. However, a lofty paycheck will have the last word on the rigmarole, no matter what.

NIL will shape up the final recruiting twist for Jackson Cantwell

Keeping aside all the other narratives, including culture, coaching staff, and all, the money became a pivotal factor in Cantwell’s last call and quite convincingly so. He has always been a fan of long-term stability and the assurance of an overall good developmental scope over the hype. But that doesn’t mean the cash won’t do his job. No, maybe the cry goes silent under the other ethical demands and claims, it felt good to hear, but it was always there, slyly yet widely.

During the 2025 cycle, Underwood abruptly switched his commitment from LSU to Michigan. Fast forward a few months, and he was the one who used to speak about film loyalty. But, see, $10.5 million did the magic. Miami secured Carson Beck with a $4.5 million bucket in the crucial offseason, and they have the potential to go larger cap for an elite talent like Cantwell. “And certainly what the Hurricanes could potentially bring off the field from an NIL perspective. I think those packages are looking pretty strong to Jackson Cantwell at this point in his process.” Wiltfong noted in one of his previous Fong bombs.

Now, the priority has shifted. The player with an outstanding record at Nixa High School bagged over 30 FBS offers over the last few months. So, it will not be a surprise if the kid forces Kirby Smart to use his full NIL potential to swoop him in. “I think UGA is also showing exciting NIL potential for Cantwell, and the buzz says this is trending back towards Athens,” Wiltfong kept the ceiling high to higher for the Dawgs. We will see where things go with the standout five-star offensive tackle going forward.