Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has just received news that could shake up his recruiting efforts. The battle for the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class, Jackson Cantwell, is heating up, and Michigan’s Sherrone Moore and Oregon’s Dan Lanning appear to be making strong moves to secure his commitment.
Cantwell, a highly sought-after offensive lineman, has been making rounds on his recruitment visits, recently stopping at Miami, Ohio State, and Michigan. While Ohio State was among his planned visits, recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong emphasized that Michigan and Oregon are making a particularly strong push. Wiltfong noted that while Cantwell has already visited Georgia and Missouri multiple times, he had initially wanted to visit Oregon this week as well, though scheduling conflicts prevented it. Despite that, Oregon remains a serious contender, with Michigan also gaining traction due to its physical Big Ten style of play, which aligns well with Cantwell’s preferences.
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Ohio State still has a chance, as Cantwell is looking forward to meeting offensive line coach Mike Bowen and the rest of the Buckeyes’ staff for the first time. He sees this upcoming visit as critical in deciding whether to schedule an official visit later. However, Ohio State currently stands out for the wrong reason—it is the only school in Cantwell’s top six that does not have an official visit locked in. While Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, and Oregon are all on his official visit schedule, Ohio State is still on the outside looking in.
Michigan, on the other hand, has been putting in serious work to secure Cantwell. The Wolverines have already hosted him once in December, and he’s scheduled to return on March 22. Head coach Sherrone Moore, who has a strong offensive line background, and O-line coach Grant Newsome have been instrumental in building a relationship with him. Moore even visited Cantwell’s school last month, reinforcing Michigan’s commitment to bringing him into their program. Cantwell has expressed admiration for Moore’s approach, highlighting that he wants the offensive line to be “the heart and soul of the team.”
Meanwhile, Oregon remains a major threat in this recruitment battle. Dan Lanning has built a reputation as one of the most charismatic and effective recruiters in college football, and Cantwell has taken notice. He has spoken highly of both Lanning and Oregon’s offensive line coach, A’lique Terry, and sees the Ducks as a team on the rise. He even described Lanning as “one of the most likable dudes in college football right now,” a strong indication of how well Oregon’s staff has connected with him.
For Ohio State, the upcoming March 20-21 unofficial visit could be a turning point. If the Buckeyes fail to impress Cantwell and secure an official visit, they may struggle to stay in contention. With Michigan and Oregon rolling out the red carpet and using NIL opportunities to their advantage, Ryan Day and his staff have a lot of ground to make up. If they can’t make a strong impression soon, they may find themselves falling out of the race for the nation’s top prospect.