COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 20 CFP National Championship - Notre Dame vs Ohio State - Source: Getty — COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 20 CFP National Championship - Notre Dame vs Ohio State (Credits: Getty)

"Their OL room is getting the job done no matter what": Nation's No. 1 prospect Jackson Cantwell shows love for Ohio State after title win

Modified Jan 23, 2025 13:04 GMT

Ohio State's championship win is set to dominate football discussions for the next few days. The Buckeyes secured a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame on Monday night, and one prospect particularly impressed by Ryan Day's program is five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.

After the win, Cantwell expressed his admiration for Ohio State in a post on X, tagging coach Ryan Day and run game coordinator/offensive line coach Justin Frye.

"Congratulations to @OhioStateFB for getting it done! Heck of a postseason run. Their OL room is getting the job done no matter what… @CoachJFrye @ryandaytime #NSGB."

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Throughout the postseason, Ohio State's offense has been led by standout performances from quarterback Will Howard, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and running back Quinshon Judkins. For an offensive prospect like Cantwell, OSU's offense provides a lucrative opportunity.

"OSU is a school that is in the playoffs and has been historically successful over the past few years,” Cantwell told On3 ahead of the championship race.

Jackson Cantwell still has months to decide where he will end up for his college career, but Ohio State will definitely have an edge in his recruitment following its championship win.

Jackson Cantwell can be a big addition to Ohio State's offense

Jackson Cantwell is a consensus five-star offensive lineman out of Nixa High School in Missouri and is regarded as the top offensive line prospect in the 2026 cycle. Offensive linemen are a top priority for Ohio State in the 2026 recruiting class, and Cantwell could be an ideal fit.

The Buckeyes extended an offer to Cantwell in 2023 and have remained heavily involved in his recruitment ever since. When discussing his strengths on the field, Cantwell shared with Eleven Warriors:

“What our program has really made me get into is down blocking and pass protection. Pretty much anything in the run game where I can go down and block linebackers or defensive tackles is pretty good."

"I feel like in pass protection my reach blocks have been pretty good as well. I obviously have a lot of athleticism and size, but I’d say there’s a few things I’m doing pretty well at right now.”

Jackson Cantwell’s talent is drawing attention far beyond high school football, as he was honored by the Kansas City Chiefs during Saturday's game against the Houston Texans, recognizing him as their selection to represent the team at Nike’s Next Ones event.