Michigan visits nation's No. 1 recruit, 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell
Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome met with five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell Wednesday. This was the second time the Wolverine staff met with nation’s No. 1 recruit out of Nixa (MO) High during the January evaluation period.
Cantwell is a 6-7.5, 305-pound tackle, and all four recruiting services have him in the top 3 of their class of 2026 rankings. Newsome met with him this week, a little over a month after he visited Michigan unofficially Dec. 15.
His December trip to Ann Arbor was his first visit, and he caught up with The Wolverine afterwards.
“It was a fun visit,” Cantwell said. “I got to meet the coaches and see all the facilities. I talked to the strength coach and the personnel people. I think the campus is pretty nice. It looks like a good place to live. It was an enjoyable visit. I didn’t get to see The Big House because I was short on time. I definitely want to do that next time. I will probably be back. Maybe for a spring practice.”
The son of two former USA Olympians, Cantwell is perhaps the most coveted prospect in America. He has taken five trips to see Missouri, his in-state program. Georgia, Ohio State and Nebraska have all hosted him four times as well.
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Newsome is his primary recruiter and continues to strengthen his relationship with the elite tackle prospect.
“Coach Newsome is a really smart guy,” Cantwell said. “He understands the game really well. He was a successful college football player himself, so he understands what it takes. He seems like a good leader of men and can get guys to be very successful if they buy into the process.”
Head coach Sherrone Moore, who coached the Wolverine offensive line to consecutive Joe Moore Awards, also stopped by Nixa High earlier this month to see the lineman alongside general manager Sean Magee, who has played a critical role in the Wolverines’ push into the NIL world. Ronsenhaus Sports represents Cantwell, and his On3 NIL valuation sits at $730,000.
“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.”
