Ryan Day just got hit with news he definitely didn’t want to hear. You know how recruiting battles can be — one minute, you’re feeling good, the next, it’s like somebody just snatched your best talents. And for the Buckeyes, that somebody might just be Michigan’s Sherrone Moore and Oregon’s HC Dan Lanning. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes might wanna buckle up because the race for the No.1 player in the class of 2026 – Jackson Cantwell – ain’t looking so hot as per latest tea.
So, here’s the lowdown: Jackson Cantwell is on a whirlwind visit tour, making stops at Miami, Ohio State, and Michigan. And the buzz? Michigan and Oregon are throwing some serious heat his way. According to recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong, “He’s also gonna visit Michigan and Ohio State, and these are places he’s very excited to see spring practice and continue building relationships with those coaching staffs. He’s been to Georgia a ton, he’s been to nearby Missouri several times. He wished he could get to Oregon over this week too, but he just wasn’t able to pull all four together.” Oh, but don’t let that fool you. Oregon’s still very much in the race, and Michigan’s coming with that Big Ten smash-mouth style Jackson loves.
Now, when it comes to Ohio State, Jackson’s excited about meeting Coach Mike Bowen and the rest of the staff for the first time. “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,” Cantwell admitted.
Sounds promising, right? Well, pump the brakes. Steve Wiltfong kept it real: “Ohio State’s one of the six finalists that does not have an official visit scheduled. He has them locked in with Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, and Oregon.” Crazy, turns out, Ohio State’s the only school in his top six with no official visit locked in. That’s like inviting the date to prom and not even setting up a ride. Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, and Oregon? All set. Buckeyes? Not so much. And you already know Michigan and Oregon are coming with their best sales pitch.
But here’s the kicker—Cantwell’s not sleeping on Ohio State. Even though the Buckeyes are behind the eight ball, he’s still taking an unofficial visit to Columbus from March 20-21. Apparently, it’s a make-or-break moment. If he likes what he sees, maybe, just maybe, Ohio State can squeeze into his official visit calendar. Bowen better roll out the red carpet because the clock’s ticking, Sherrone Moore and Dan Lanning aren’t playing easy, especially with that NIL money.
Dan Lanning and Sherrone Moore are in pursuit of Jackson Cantwell
Michigan’s swinging big for the No.1 recruit, and it’s not hard to see why. Cantwell already had a taste of Ann Arbor last December, and now he’s heading back on March 22 to continue building his relationship with the Wolverines. Grant Newsome, the team’s O-line coach, and Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s head coach with an offensive line background, are putting in the work. Moore even hit up Cantwell’s school last month, showing just how serious the Wolverines are about landing the nation’s top prospect.
“Coach Moore has a vision that he wants the offensive line to be the heart and soul of the team,” Cantwell said. “Coming from being that (offensive line) coach, he knows why prioritizing that can be successful long-term. I think that’s exactly what he’s doing right now—getting his offensive line going, so it can be the best line possible.”
Meanwhile, Oregon’s lurking like a wolf ready to pounce. Dan Lanning’s got the charisma of a Hollywood A-lister and the recruiting chops to back it up. Cantwell even admitted, “The Ducks are winning lots of football games and have two of my favorite coaches with their HC and position coach.” A’lique Terry, Oregon’s O-line coach, has been hitting all the right notes with Cantwell, building a solid bond over time. The Ducks may be far away from Missouri, but Lanning’s name rings out in the Midwest. Cantwell called him “One of the most likable dudes in college football right now,” which is pretty high praise from a kid who’s been flirted by every blue-blood program you can think of.
It’s pretty clear that both Michigan and Oregon are miles ahead of Ohio State right now. The Buckeyes are just trying to keep their foot in the door, while Lanning and Moore are practically rolling out the red carpet. And let’s be real, when you’re talking about a 6’7.5, 305-pound monster like Cantwell, you better have your best sales pitch ready.
Ryan Day’s got a lot of ground to cover if he wants to keep Ohio State in the mix. OSU better put on a show during that March 20-21 trip to Columbus. But as it stands, Michigan and Oregon are already leagues ahead, and that’s a nightmare scenario for the Buckeyes. If Day and Bowen don’t lock in an official visit soon for Jackson Cantwell, they might as well kiss their chances goodbye.
The post Ryan Day Hit With Worrying Update on 5-Star Jackson Cantwell as Michigan & Oregon Gain Momentum for 305lb Prospect appeared first on EssentiallySports.