COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mizzou football won't be signing the highest-rated recruit in the state for the 2026 cycle.
Star Nixa offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell announced the final four schools he's considering, and MU isn't on the list — Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State and Miami are. While the Tigers had been trending out of the mix for the nation's No. 3 overall recruit, according to 247Sports' rankings, it seemed like they'd have a chance to push for his signature.
Cantwell's father, Christian Cantwell, was an Olympian who attended and competed at Missouri. Mizzou has recruited Jackson, but didn't make the final cut.
It's an open question what missing out on a coveted recruit means in 2025, when the transfer portal increases in importance at the expense of recruiting and developing high school talent. The Tigers have two verbal commitments in the 2026 cycle: four-star defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr. and three-star safety D'Montae Tims.
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Reserve lineman to portal
Mizzou will lose a reserve offensive lineman to the transfer portal when it opens later this week. Depth center Talan Chandler — an in-state recruit from Nevada, Missouri, who redshirted his freshman season in 2024 — announced that he intends to enter the transfer portal.
Chandler brings the number of spring departures from MU up to five, including quarterback Drew Pyne, linebacker Mikai Gbayor, defensive end Jahkai Lang and defensive back Ja'Marion Wayne.
Coach Eli Drinkwitz said last week that he expects to lose upwards of eight players to the spring portal.Â
Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz speaks with the media on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. about the team's quarterback competition. (Video by Mizzou Network, used with permission of Mizzou Athletics)
