Jackson Cantwell breaks silence on Miami NIL rumors
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Jackson Cantwell isn’t running from the headlines—he’s rewriting them.
Moments after announcing his commitment to the University of Miami, the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2025 class directly addressed the growing narrative that he chose Coral Gables because of a rumored $2 million NIL package.
“Well, I think my response to it is it’s not the same narrative people like Pete Nakos are pushing right now,” Cantwell said, referencing the On3 reporter who first broke the NIL numbers. “I think there’s just a false narrative that that’s why I’m choosing. And I think that, I mean, I think relationships won out in Miami.”
Jackson Cantwell didn’t hold back.
He says it wasn’t about the money—and calls out @On3sports@PeteNakos_ for pushing a “false narrative.”
Cantwell says relationships, not dollar signs, won out in his commitment to Miami. #dawgnationpic.twitter.com/CTQLiKQZyJ— DawgNation (@DawgNation) May 13, 2025
At 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, Cantwell has drawn national attention for his NFL-ready frame and dominant play at Nixa High School in Missouri. He’s been courted by powerhouse programs including Georgia and Oregon. But as whispers of NIL offers grew louder, so did criticism of his decision.
Cantwell didn’t shy away from the subject—instead, he pointed to the Hurricanes’ persistent recruitment. “They spent the most time with me. They put the most effort into recruiting me,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of skin in the game with all these schools as far as getting represented by Drew [Rosenhaus] and making sure of them to be fairly compensated.”
Still, he made it clear that NIL wasn’t the deal-breaker. “I think every school’s done a good job with that and been accommodating. Anyone who would say otherwise about how I’ve done my recruitment has been just misled.”
While Cantwell’s decision may alter the offensive line outlook for Miami in a major way—especially following their massive NIL deals for quarterback Carson Beck—he wants fans to know he chose the ’Canes for more than a paycheck.
Recruiting today may be powered by dollars, but Cantwell’s words offer a reminder: trust, time, and effort still matter.
Related: Kentucky’s Mark Pope sends blunt $200M NIL message to rest of NCAA
Related: U.S. Senator turns heads by wanting more control over NIL
