Jackson Cantwell may not have arrived at Miami and immediately looked like the instant answer some expected, but the Hurricanes are clearly treating his development like a long game.
The former five-star recruit came in with plenty of hype as part of the 2026 class, and that kind of buzz can turn into unfair expectations fast. From the outside, it has been easy to label the early returns a disappointment. Inside the program, though, Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal are sticking to what they value most: building offensive linemen the right way, even if it takes time.
That matters especially with Cantwell. Playing up front is hard enough, and it gets even tougher under Cristobal’s standards. Miami wants him getting real reps in his first year, but it also wants to see him improve every time he steps on the field.
Against Central Michigan, Cantwell logged 16 snaps and spent almost all of them at tackle. He posted an 83.9 PFF grade, including a 78.1 pass-blocking grade and an 81.2 run-blocking grade. The usage itself says plenty: Miami seems to have moved away from trying to force him into a guard role.
That shift makes sense based on how Cristobal and Mirabal usually handle young linemen. Their pattern has been to start talented players inside and move them outside once they gain experience.
It worked with Francis Mauigoa. It’s working with Samson Okunlola.
But Cantwell hasn’t taken to guard in the same way, and the staff appears to have chosen development over stubbornness.
Instead of boxing him in, Miami is using him where he looks most natural. He has value as a second-team tackle, and he also got work in jumbo packages and other alignments that should keep him involved as the rotation tightens later in the season.
The bar some people set for him was never realistic. Expecting an 18-year-old to walk in and hold down left tackle for a championship-caliber team from day one is asking a lot. Miami has too much invested in Darian Mensah to take chances with his blind side, and the job of protecting that side belongs to its best lineman, Okunlola.
Cantwell did spend time on the scout team during Miami’s playoff run and took reps against Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. That offered a glimpse, but only a glimpse. His size - 6-foot-8, 330 pounds - and his spot on the freaks list are part of the picture, not the whole story.
What stands out now is that Miami is willing to adjust rather than force the issue. Offensive line development is serious business for Cristobal, and the fact that the staff has already altered Cantwell’s path suggests they believe in where this is headed. His response matters too, and by all indications, he has handled it well.
It would be easy for a true freshman to bristle if Ben Congdon is getting three times the snaps, but Congdon is more comfortable at guard and that’s where the reps are. Cantwell’s time is coming, and when the rotation narrows, he projects as the top backup at both tackle spots. If Week 4 is any indication, he’s ready to make the most of his chances while working toward a full-time starting role.
In Other News...
Miami Fans Have Every Right To Question This Latest AP Poll Snub
Miamis strong start has already made it hard to ignore, but the Hurricanes still found themselves missing from one Associated Press Top 25 ballot in Week 4, this time from Eric Johnson, who covers Virginia Tech. It was the second time in the first four weeks of the 2026 season that Miami was left off a ballot, after a different voter did the same in Week 1, a wrinkle that is bound to catch the attention of anyone tracking the rankings closely.
Johnsons ballot drew even more notice because of some unusual placements elsewhere on the card, though no official explanation has been confirmed for Miamis omission. For a program trying to build momentum and stay visible in the national conversation, repeated ballot snubs create an easy source of frustration, especially when the teams rsum appears strong enough to warrant a more consistent look from the voters. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bain Already Has Buccaneers Fans Debating His Role
Rueben Bains start with the Buccaneers has already become a talking point in Tampa Bay, and not just because the rookie has had a slow opening stretch. Gerald McCoy has weighed in publicly on Bains early struggles, pointing to coaching and scheme as possible reasons the pass rusher has not yet been able to show the impact many expected.
Bain has appeared in two games with limited production and also missed a recent contest because of a groin injury, leaving his availability for the next matchup uncertain. McCoy believes the answer may be a role adjustment that puts Bain in better position to use his strengths, a conversation that has only grown louder as the Buccaneers sit at 0-3 and keep searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Heads Into Clemson With One Big Threat Looming
The No. 4 Hurricanes head to Clemson this week for one of the ACCs most unforgiving road trips, and the setting alone makes it a test. Death Valley has long been a difficult place for visiting teams, and Miami will walk into it facing a Tigers group that has already shown both resilience and flaws after opening 3-1 and bouncing back from an early loss.
Clemson has had some uneven moments on offense and defense, but there is still plenty for Miami to account for. The Tigers can lean on quarterbacks Tait Reynolds and Christopher Vizzina, running back Gideon Davidson, and wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco, giving this matchup enough moving parts to keep the Hurricanes on alert from the opening snap. [Read more 🡒]