Jackson Cantwell's Ride from High School to Hard Rock

Jackson Cantwell’s junior year looked a little (okay, a lot) different than most. Between AP classes and football practice, the 17-year-old 6’8” lineman fielded calls from top-tier universities, competed in—and won—national track championships and boarded private planes for recruiting visits, ultimately receiving a seven-figure Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) offer. By spring, he was the nation’s No. 1 football recruit. On May 13, he made it official: Cantwell is headed to the University of Miami after graduation. “Coach [Mario] Cristobal and [Alex] Mirabal had the best plan for me, were the most authentic and I believe will put the most effort into my development as a player and person,” Jackson says.

Before he was a top football prospect, Jackson was a track star, taking after parents Teri and Christian Cantwell, both Olympic shot putters. “Jackson started winning national track championships at 8 years old,” says Teri. “I thought he could go to college for track early on. I didn’t realize it would be football until freshman year.” That year, Jackson got his first varsity start in game three. His first D1 offer came the same week. “Our mouths dropped,” Teri says. “Recruiting for football started very early for Jackson.”

What sets Jackson’s story apart isn’t his impressive stats or even his genes. It’s how he and his family managed the complex, high-stakes world of modern college athletics while focusing on development, education and fit.

“Families navigate this opportunity differently,” shares Teri, who now serves as Central Bank’s Senior Vice President Human Resources. “In our case, NIL discussions arose toward the end of the process. The final four contenders’ offers were so close it really wasn’t a factor.”

NIL rights have dramatically—and rapidly—shifted the landscape of college, and now even high school, athletics. Adopted by the NCAA in 2021, NIL allows student-athletes to profit from their personal brand through things like endorsement deals, social media content, merchandise and public appearances, just like professional athletes. Strictly prohibited just four years ago, NIL is now a multimillion-dollar marketplace, with elite recruits like Jackson finding themselves at the intersection of sports, business and legal negotiations before they’re old enough to vote. For families thrust into this new reality, NIL introduces enormous opportunity and equally enormous complexity. From written contracts to long-term brand management, it’s no longer just about where an athlete plays, but how they leverage their platform off the field, too.

To traverse the business side, the Cantwells hired powerhouse NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus. Jackson was one of his first high school clients. “Drew did a fantastic job,” Jackson says. “He helped ensure my contract was ironclad.” Teri adds, “He secured an agreement that allowed Jackson to think solely about football. We shot for the moon and won.”

Despite being firmly in the spotlight, Jackson stays grounded, more interested in offensive line drills than flashy endorsements. “I spend enough time with my friends doing normal high school activities that it doesn’t feel too surreal yet,” he says. “I balance it by not thinking about it too much.” Until Jackson’s financial information was in the media, none of his friends or teammates knew anything about his recruitment details. Teri points out that while many kids would be boastful, Jackson doesn’t talk about it.

“My parents found genuine people to trust in this process and gave me lots of perspective,” Jackson says. “I’ve had to forge my own path, though, learning the game of football especially, as it isn’t as well-known as track in my immediate family.”

Teri echoes the sentiment: “Football recruiting presents a stark contrast to the track world we were accustomed to. It demands significant commitment from both parents and athletes, resembling a full-time job.” As Jackson prepares for senior year at Nixa—and likely, early graduation in December—he’s thinking long-term. “I want to leave a legacy in my city, maybe even state or country,” he says. “I’m looking forward to one last year with my friends and then playing my first game in Hard Rock [Stadium].”