While all the talk around Nebraska football and its offensive line recruiting has been about David Sanders Jr, there is another 5-star tackle that the Huskers are among the front runners for in the 2026 class.
Jackson Cantwell recently named the Huskers among his favorite 14 teams. The problem there is that it’s hard to know when the Nixa, Missouri prospect is going to narrow down his list even more.
When Cantwell does narrow the list down, it feels as though the Georgia Bulldogs are going to be pretty hard to beat. That’s not a shock at all, considering who they are. However, Kirby Smart and company might have specifically taken a big step forward after Cantwell went and saw what Athens has to offer.
Nebraska football pursuit of 5-star tackle hits Georgia speed bump
Not only did Cantwell get to see what Georgia has to offer but he also got the red carpet treatment. Not long after his visit, he told On3’s Jeremy Johnson that he really felt like he was a priority with the Bulldogs.
It can be quite intoxicating when a prospect pays a visit to one of the best programs in the country and comes away feeling as though he’s a priority. As much as Nebraska would like to feel it’s the same in Lincoln, it can just feel different.
The No. 4 overall prospect in the 2026 On3 Industry Rankings was back in town for Georgia’s end-of-the-summer cookout event. That allowed him to talk with some of his potential teammates.
“Getting to talk to more players and commits and keep learning more about the program in that regard,” Cantwell said. “They (the coaching staff) also treated us very well and made me feel like I was a top priority.”
That’s the bad news for Nebraska football. The good news is that they are still in the fight. But it’s hard not to see Jackson Cantwell’s trip and reaction to it, as a Georgia speed bump.