The Oregon Ducks are pushing hard to land 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell, the crown jewel of the 2026 class. But Miami isn’t backing down; Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes have turned up the heat, using every trick in the book to win over the nation’s top lineman. Here, Cristobal’s pedigree in coaching elite offensive lines has made a serious impact, and Cantwell is finally speaking out. As of now, with Miami’s recruiting magic in full force, the battle for Cantwell is heating up—and Cristobal just got a massive boost.
On3 summed it up best in their March 20 X post, writing, “Miami hosted a loaded list of visitors this week as the Canes look to gain momentum on the recruiting trail .” And one of those visitors? None other than Jackson Cantwell himself from Nixa (Mo.) High. While the elite prospect spent a few days soaking in The U, Miami is battling alongside OSU, Michigan, Georgia, Missouri, and Oregon for his commitment. Although Cantwell said all 6 programs are recruiting him ‘very similarly’, Cristobal’s passion for O-line development stands out. “It’s the biggest selling point, honestly. What (Cristobal) does for the O-line room can’t be understated,” said Cantwell.
Cantwell had already attended a Miami game in the fall, but this visit gave him a deeper dive into the program. “Had a blast at The U over the last three days! Thankful to everyone that hosted me this week—was a very fun visit,” stated the standout OT. Not only Cantwell, on Wednesday morning, even his father also informed On3 that the journey was “going well.”
Miami hosted a loaded list of visitors this week as the Canes look to gain momentum on recruiting trail
“The visit was great.”
More from @SWiltfong_: https://t.co/ASBKUKrvtG pic.twitter.com/RLn5JwkF8m
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 19, 2025
And this week, Cristobal’s O-line coach Alex Mirabal, and The U staff had one clear message for Cantwell—The U builds elite OTs. They pointed to a track record packed with day-one starters, including stars like Cam Robinson, Jonah Williams, and so on. And more recently, Anez Cooper and Francis Mauigoa stepped in as true freshmen and anchored one of the nation’s best offensive lines. And here, Cantwell isn’t just a football phenom—he’s the 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals shot put champion, with the potential to be both an NFL star and an Olympian. So, landing him at Miami? It just makes sense.
However, Miami isn’t done yet; Cantwell is set to return for his official visit in early May, but he’s not the only top prospect speaking out on the Canes’ recruiting efforts. Look, this week, other elite recruits made their way to Coral Gables and shared their thoughts on Miami’s pitch. So, while the buzz is real, Cristobal’s relentless approach is turning heads.
Miami Hurricanes welcomes further top prospects
Miami’s recruiting buzz keeps growing, and top talent is taking notice. One of those standouts is Johnnie Jones, a blue-chip OT from Tampa, Florida. Ranked No. 84 overall and No. 10 at his position, he’s one of Miami’s most coveted targets. And his visit to Coral Gables left a strong impression. “The visit was great. I was able to watch practice and see how Coach Mirabal teaches and what makes his O-line great players,” said Jones. “My favorite parts was being able to watch and breakdown film, and also being able to watch practice and see how intense it is and what makes them able to dominate the teams they play on Saturdays,” he added
Safe to say, with Miami’s relentless recruiting efforts, the Canes are making a serious case for top-tier talent. And Miami’s recruiting momentum isn’t slowing down. While Johnnie Jones is set for his official visit in June, another top prospect, Ian Premer, just got his first taste of The U. And the elite TE, ranked No. 25 overall and No. 3 at his position by On3, had been eager to check out Miami—and the trip didn’t disappoint. “It was good. Got to see everything and had a good time. I really liked how they football-wise use the tight end position and develop them over the years. Also, they have great history there and won a lot of games last year,” said Premer.
You can say, with Miami’s rich tradition at TE and a winning culture, the Canes are making a strong case for the Kansas star. While Miami’s recruiting class keeps stacking up talent, CJ Hester is a name to watch. The Cocoa (Fla.) safety, who accepted his Miami offer in Jan, is now a three-time state champion. On top of that, ranked as the No. 108 overall prospect and No. 8 safety by On3, he’s one of the best in the country.
Right now, his visit to The U left a lasting impression. “I really like the campus and the school has some good scenery. The U being an amazing program that it is, the coaches, academic staff and all the other resources The U has, it can be a potential place for me. It is a great place to build connections with and even further myself outside of football,” stated Hester. Honestly, with a blend of championship pedigree and elite talent, he could be a game-changer for the Canes.
The reviews from the top prospects look hopeful. Now, let’s see which of these elite prospects Miami can land for the 2026 class.
The post Mario Cristobal Gets Major Boost as 5-Star Jackson Cantwell and Top Recruits Break Silence on Miami’s Recruiting Exploits appeared first on EssentiallySports.