It simply was not meant to be for the Bulldogs. The day that Georgia football supporters hoped would never come has arrived. On Tuesday, 5-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell announced his commitment to Miami, ending his recruitment. For a long, the Bulldogs were favored to land his verbal, but Mario Cristobal emerged victorious.
This could be one of the biggest recruiting surprises in recent years, as all signals pointed to UGA landing the high prospect, particularly following his recent visit to Athens over the weekend.
Instead, the Hurricanes finished the job. So, what exactly propelled the Canes to victory over the Dawgs and others in this game? Cantwell made it plain that he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to study and develop under Cristobal and Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.
Five-star OT Jackson Cantwell stunned Georgia fans with his commitment to Miami.
“I mean, I think relationships won out,” Cantwell explained. “Coach Mirabal and Cristobal have spent a lot of effort recruiting me over the last year. They were checking in with me and texting me every day regarding offensive line progress at the university.
Their past with Penei Sewell, Francis Mauigoa, and other recent players gives me confidence that I can grow and become something amazing.” Many Georgia fans, players, and alumni are dissatisfied with this choice. The list includes 5-star quarterback Jared Curtis, who committed to the Bulldogs last week. Curtis worked hard to assist Kirby Smart and his staff secure Cantwell, but the huge lineman will play collegiate sports in the ACC rather than the SEC.
This is a significant acquisition for Miami, as Cantwell is regarded as a true playmaker. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is the top offensive tackle in the country as well as the top overall prospect in the 2026 class. His finalists included Miami, Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon. Again, it appeared that Cantwell would move to Athens next winter, but he has made the difficult decision to play elsewhere. We’re not coming after the kid for choosing a different program, but many folks are left wondering what could have happened over the next 4-5 years, beginning in ’26, if he had selected Georgia.
Leave a Reply