While all eyes are locked on Monday night’s national championship showdown, the Hurricanes are already laying the groundwork for their future - and it’s looking bright. Miami has officially welcomed its entire Class of 2026, a group that signed back in December and is already making its presence felt.
Ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports, this recruiting class didn’t just arrive in one big wave - it came in stages. A few of the top prospects joined the program early, getting valuable reps and experience during Cotton Bowl prep. That head start could pay dividends down the line, especially for players like Jackson Cantwell.
Cantwell isn’t just another name on the list - he’s the headline. A five-star offensive lineman and the National Gatorade Player of the Year, he enters the program as the top-ranked player in Miami’s class. And from the sound of things, he’s already turning heads.
At Saturday morning’s Media Day ahead of the title game, members of the Hurricanes’ staff and program insiders were asked about Cantwell - and the early reviews were glowing. While it’s still early days, the buzz around him is real. He’s already begun acclimating to the speed, physicality, and complexity of the college game, and doing so with the kind of poise you don’t often see from a freshman lineman.
It’s rare to see a young offensive lineman come in and look the part this quickly. Usually, there’s a steep learning curve - adjusting to bigger, stronger, and faster competition while also mastering a new playbook. But Cantwell’s early arrival has given him a jumpstart, and the early feedback suggests he’s not just keeping up - he’s competing.
For Miami, this is exactly the kind of foundational piece you want anchoring your offensive line for years to come. He’s big, technically sound, and already showing signs of leadership. If his development continues on this trajectory, we could be talking about Cantwell as a cornerstone of the Hurricanes’ offense well before his college career hits its stride.
As the Hurricanes chase a national title in the present, they’ve also taken a major step toward securing their future. And with talents like Jackson Cantwell already in the building, it’s clear Miami isn’t just thinking about winning now - they’re building something that could last.