Elite 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell cuts initial list
COLUMBUS — Ohio State routinely and consistently finds itself in contention for elite prospects across the country.
That was no exception on Thursday when 2026 five-star Nixa (Mo) offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell announced his top 14 schools and Ohio State made the cut. Other schools in contention for Cantwell include: Miami, USC, Oregon, Texas A&M, Arkansas, LSU, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Ole Miss and Nebraska.
The 6-foot-7.5, 305-pound Cantwell is the No. 4 overall prospect and the No. 2 offensive tackle both by On3 and the On3 Industry Rankings.
Cantwell has not visited Ohio State, but he’s been very high on the Buckeyes throughout his communication. He said this to On3’s Chad Simmons about Ohio State after announcing his list.
“OSU has a historically great program with a lot of great linemen and coaches within it in the modern day. Coach [Justin] Frye is good at what he does and they churn out offensive line talent.”
The Buckeyes are in good standing for a few other offensive linemen in the 2026 cycle. Four-star Avon Lake (Ohio) interior offensive lineman Max Riley, four-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban offensive tackle Sam Greer, four-star Fort Pierce (Fla) Vero Beach offensive tackle Micah ‘Champ’ Smith and four-star Hurricane (W.Va) interior offensive lineman Da’Ron Parks are all high on the Buckeyes.
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Those four offensive linemen visited Ohio State in either the spring or summer — Riley and Greer visited Ohio State in both seasons.
The Buckeyes have two offensive linemen committed to their 2025 class right now. Four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe and three-star Westerville (Ohio) North interior offensive lineman Jake Cook make up the class for now.
Five-star Plus+ Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., the country’s No. 1 offensive tackle, has Ohio State in his final four. He will announce his commitment on Aug. 17. Another five-star offensive tackle has Ohio State in his final group of schools — Josh Petty.
The Buckeyes are also the favorite for four-star Washington D.C. Riverdale Baptist interior offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden.
