$1.9 Million NIL-valued Miami commit Jackson Cantwell has 4-word message for recruiting insider's comments about him

Jackson Cantwell's recrutment saga was one of the most intense episodes in the high school circuit. It kept schools on their toes, with Miami securing his pledge with a reported $2.5 million NIL deal.

Although winds favored the Hurricanes early on, the tide quickly shifted to Kirby Smart's Georgia. However, Miami was successful at securing Cantwell at the last minute.

The whole recruiting episode saw ranking fluctuations for Cantwell. Before he picked the Hurricanes on May 13, Cantwell was touted as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2026. He dropped to No. 10 after 247Sports released its latest rankings.

Amid all these developments, On3's Luke Stampini supported Cantwell and backed him up as the No. 1 prospect.

"The more I hear about 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell, the more I think he should be prospect No. 1 in the 2026 class," Stampini wrote on Friday.

Cantwell, who has a NIL valuation of $.1.9 million (according to On3), saw the report and reacted to it.

"I like your thinking," Cantwell tweeted.

Jackson Cantwell named MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year

Owing to his outstanding football and shot put career, Jackson Cantwell won the 2024-25 MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year on Wednesday. He earned it over other high school standouts such as Cameron Boozer and Dionte Neal, among others.

"An absolute honor. Blessed and humbled. Excited to work with my guys this summer! #NSGB," Cantwell tweeted.

The Nixa (Missouri) native had an outstanding football season, leading his high school to a Class 6 state runner-up finish. His track and field career has also been impressive.

In the past few weeks, Cantwell competed in different tournaments, smashing his records along the way. At the MHSAA state championship over the weekend, he threw for 23.45 meters, and was 1 cm shy of making history by breaking NFL and shot put star Michael Carter's 1979 record.

"It means a lot," Cantwell said on Wednesday, via MaxPreps. "It takes not only a special athlete, but a special work ethic to get to that point, so I'm just happy that I have been able to see the benefits of that lately.

He clinched his third consecutive state championship in shot put and discus and recorded the third-longest throw by a high school athlete in U.S. history.

Born to celebrated Olympic shot put athletes, Christian and Teri, Cantwell has proved his mettle in both sports, and has maintained good grades. His dad won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was a seven-time world champion.

Meanwhile, Teri earned bronze at the 1999 indoor championships and Pan American Games. She also participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Cantwell's competitiveness was on full display as he beat his dad's record.

"I finished second in the state my senior year and I threw 60-0 1/2," Christian said. "His very first throw in high school beat my record. In the district final (as a freshman), he's throwing almost 75 feet."

Cantwell is scheduled to visit Coral Gables this weekend, alongside James Johnson, Jaelen Water and others.