Miami (FL) football is using a new strategy in the era of college football recruiting by offering significant financial incentives to attract top recruits. The Hurricanes are making a bold move by offering up to \$2 million in an attempt to secure a five-star talent.
Head coach Mario Cristobal and Miami are focusing their efforts on securing tackle Jackson Cantwell from Nixa, Missouri. However, they must compete with Georgia and Oregon—Cristobal’s former school.
According to Pete Nakos of On3, Miami is now using its NIL resources to entice Cantwell. Nakos reports that the deal on the table is the most lucrative first-year offer, valued around \$2 million. Other schools will also present their own NIL offers. Cantwell’s representation, Rosenhaus Sports, is still negotiating, and it’s unclear which school Cantwell is leaning toward.
If Cantwell commits to Miami, it would be a significant boost to their 2026 recruiting class, which is currently ranked 16th nationally, without any five-star commits. He could become their first five-star recruit, altering their standing in the rankings. Miami already has nine verbal commitments, including three four-star prospects like cornerback Camdin Portis, the son of former NFL Pro Bowler Clinton Portis.
This move is part of Miami’s larger push to showcase their recruiting and NIL capabilities. Earlier this offseason, the Hurricanes made a grand entrance by arriving via helicopter to recruit in Texas, and they also offered a seven-figure NIL deal to incoming quarterback Carson Beck to transfer.
Cantwell, ranked as the top prospect in Missouri and the No. 1 tackle for the 2026 class by 247Sports, has impressed scouts with his quickness, hand violence, and power at the line of scrimmage. While Miami is making a strong push, Georgia remains a strong contender, as Cantwell and his family are set to visit Athens over Mother’s Day weekend, with reports suggesting the Bulldogs currently have the upper hand.
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