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2026 MO OL Jackson Cantwell (Verbal Offer)

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Nation’s No. 1 player nearing a decision​

The Buckeyes are in the mix for multiple top players in the 2026 class ahead of a major recruiting weekend.

The No. 1 player in the country regardless of position per the 24Sports Composite is Nixa, Missouri native, Jackson Cantwell. A target that needs no formal introduction, every program in the country would line up for his commitment with all that he brings to the table. Whether it be size, length, strength, or just his prep film, Cantwell is ranked where he’s at for a reason, and Ohio State has been in the mix for some time now.

Releasing a list of six final schools in February, Cantwell has been down to Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Ohio State for a while, taking visits to several this spring alone. It looks as if Jackson is really nearing a final decision as he took to his social media on Thursday to share his latest thoughts on where he may end up.

The phrase, “I have all the information I need” was mentioned and that’s pretty telling. As of right now, it appears the Buckeyes likely are on the outside looking in. Taking a spring visit in the past few weeks, Ohio State is still the lone program in his top schools to not have an official visit lined up, and typically that would tell you all you need to know.

The Buckeyes aren’t totally out of it by any means, but the easy guess here is believing they have plenty of ground to make up on the likes of Missouri, Michigan, and Georgia. Ohio State and Tyler Bowen will continue to punch here, but with other options they’re likely more favored for, it’s not all bad news for the Buckeyes.

For now, it does look like they’ll learn their fate one way or another sooner than later.


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Miami fans are getting super nervous because Cantwell is set to visit Georgia last, and he cancelled the visit that was supposed to be to Miami before his commitment date. This recruitment is so interesting because OSU has 0 chance, so it's entertaining to watch teams sweat :lol:
Drew Rosenhaus' agency is representing him, what did these programs expect
 
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In this new era, I'm 100% on board with taking the best Ohio O-linemen who want to be Buckeyes and supplanting those fellas with proven transfer portal guys

In the off-chance you can get an out-of-state special talent like Donovan Jackson that wants to be a Buckeye, you absolutely go after a guy like that, but I think that's as close to a winning formula as you can get. Let the college football world fight for the prima donna money chasers like David Sanders that will needlessly eat up their team's salary resources
 
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Don't think this is sour grapes, but.....given how the other top rated OTs tOSU has chased over the past several years, haven't seen any really outstanding years had by any. Of course, I recognize that if a tackle's name is in the paper, it's usually a bad thing. The only one read about is the kid that went to Colorado, and what read was that he wasn't particularly happy with the locker room. Seaton (?) I believe. Although do wish we'd get another Orlando Pace, know that given tOSU's proclivity toward not getting into a bidding war, am completely happy with the serviceable OTs that have taken in the portal, although not as pleased with the 'depth' pieces (mostly tOSU recruits) not winning the job. Not certain how to reconcile that in my mind. Anyway, have a blessed day. Go Bucks!
 
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calibuck said:
Don't think this is sour grapes, but.....given how the other top rated OTs tOSU has chased over the past several years, haven't seen any really outstanding years had by any. Of course, I recognize that if a tackle's name is in the paper, it's usually a bad thing. The only one read about is the kid that went to Colorado, and what read was that he wasn't particularly happy with the locker room. Seaton (?) I believe. Although do wish we'd get another Orlando Pace, know that given tOSU's proclivity toward not getting into a bidding war, am completely happy with the serviceable OTs that have taken in the portal, although not as pleased with the 'depth' pieces (mostly tOSU recruits) not winning the job. Not certain how to reconcile that in my mind. Anyway, have a blessed day. Go Bucks!
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Seaton also was just finishing his true frosh year, so he probably isn't the best example. But guys like Kadyn Proctor, Francis Mauigoa, and JC Latham, are a few guys who have had successful OT CFB careers, but OL is such a crapshoot. It takes several years for these guys to be college ready, as they're used to being the biggest strongest player their whole lives until they hit a college campus. I can imagine Sanders is getting his butt handed to him on a platter daily by DL backups at Tenn. The reason its so rare to get another Orlando Pace, is because he was THAT rare! True frosh hardly ever come in year 1 at LT and are any good. Carter Lowe may not even see the field at all in 2025, and he was on the cusp of a 5star. So not just bidding wars, but it is extremely difficult to come out the gate starting. Samson Okunla was a 5star from the '23 class, and had an NIL deal in HS, and was supposed to be the next great CFB OT, and was destined to be 3 and done. He's now in year 3 and is barely cracking the 2 deep... at Guard!
 
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calibuck said:
Don't think this is sour grapes, but.....given how the other top rated OTs tOSU has chased over the past several years, haven't seen any really outstanding years had by any. Of course, I recognize that if a tackle's name is in the paper, it's usually a bad thing. The only one read about is the kid that went to Colorado, and what read was that he wasn't particularly happy with the locker room. Seaton (?) I believe. Although do wish we'd get another Orlando Pace, know that given tOSU's proclivity toward not getting into a bidding war, am completely happy with the serviceable OTs that have taken in the portal, although not as pleased with the 'depth' pieces (mostly tOSU recruits) not winning the job. Not certain how to reconcile that in my mind. Anyway, have a blessed day. Go Bucks!
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The last national OOS tackle that was really highly rated that I can remember was NPF, who had an outstanding career here. However, that was not very recent. Donovan Jackson counts if you consider him an OT.

As for Cantwell, pretty sure they hit the eject button once they saw the clear bidding war that was about to ensue, which was smart so we could focus on realistic prospects.
 
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RB07OSU said:
The last national OOS tackle that was really highly rated that I can remember was NPF, who had an outstanding career here. However, that was not very recent. Donovan Jackson counts if you consider him an OT.

As for Cantwell, pretty sure they hit the eject button once they saw the clear bidding war that was about to ensue, which was smart so we could focus on realistic prospects.
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I think OSU also looked elsewhere when they found out that Drew Rosenhous was representing a 17yo

 
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