Jackson Cantwell, No. 1 overall 2026 prospect, visits Ohio State
The nation’s best player in the class of 2026 was in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.
Nixa (Mo.) Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell visited Ohio State a day before he plans to head north to visit Michigan.
The 6-foot-7.5, 305-pound tackle is adding this pair of Big Ten rivals to a long list of schools he has visited — one that includes the likes of Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon and USC.
“OSU is a school that is in the playoffs and has been historically successful over the past few years,” Cantwell told On3 earlier this week.
Jackson Cantwell Recruit Profile
Cantwell was a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award.
“We currently consider Jackson Cantwell as the top offensive line prospect in the 2026 cycle. He has outstanding athleticism, excellent functional strength, he doubles as a top track-and-field athlete — one of the best shotput throwers in the nation. Both of his parents were Olympian throwers,” On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power said. “You don’t typically see offensive linemen win a national award like this, but Cantwell is certainly a top talent at the position in the 2026 cycle.”
Cantwell is the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect and No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2026 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
On3’s scouting and rankings team writes this about Cantwell as a prospect.
“Jackson Cantwell, who has the nickname of “Mr. Olympics,” has the DNA that coaches dream of. Cantwell is the son of former USA Olympians Christian and Teri (Steer) Cantwell. His father is a five-time world champion and won a silver medal in the shot put at the 2008 Beijing games and in 2004 had the top four shot put throws in the world. Teri Cantwell participated in the 2000 Sydney games and was a two-time NCAA shot put champion at SMU. “It’s pretty amazing,” Nixa coach John Perry told the Springfield News-Leader. “He has not only been blessed genetically from his height. But he’s also been blessed with parents who have put a work ethic in him to where he likes to work out and get stronger. He likes to be better than he was the day before and everybody doesn’t have that.”
“Along with his football accolades, Cantwell also excels in shotput like his parents. He had one of the top 20 throws amongst all high schoolers in 2023. Cantwell also scored a 33 on the ACT – when he was a freshman.”
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