David Pollack on Georgia losing Jackson Cantwell to Miami: 'I wasn't surprised when I heard the number'

Offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell was one of the most highly anticipated recruits in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Now, he’s made his decision. Cantwell is going to join the Miami Hurricanes.

That decision came amid rumors about the size of the NIL deal that Jackson Cantwell received at Miami. That number has been reported as being around $2 million. It’s a number that made his decision less of a surprise to someone like analyst David Pollack, who shared his thoughts on the decision on See Ball Get Ball.

“I wasn’t surprised when I heard the number,” David Pollack said. “I think when the number came out, I wasn’t surprised. Here’s the thing, if you want to talk about this in any way, shape, or form outside of this being a business decision — and I’m not knocking Cantwell. That is his absolute right to maximize what he’s got and his family’s right. So, don’t take this as I’m knocking the kid, but when the kid says it’s about development and it’s about working with so and so, and so and so. No, it’s not. It’s about $2 million.”

Jackson Cantwell is a five-star recruit in the Class of 2026. On top of that, he’s the top-ranked offensive tackle and the top-ranked recruit overall in that cycle. He chose Miami ahead of Georgia and Oregon, among numerous other schools.

“Here’s what you’re seeing a lot in college football. By the way, I talked to four college coaches today from different schools. Here’s what you’re seeing a lot of. You’re seeing a lot of spending right now going on because, in July, that salary cap will hit. In July, after that hits, there’s going to be punishments. Like, when you overspend, you’re going to get slapped, and I hope they slap the absolute fire out of people. I hope it’s a backhand like you see on X when they show those slapping competitions and you just sit there and eat it,” Pollack said.

“I hope it’s like that. I hope it’s a Cantwell joker at 6-8, 300 [lbs] slapping people across the grill for cheating. I’m all for that. So, I think talking to coaches today from Clemson, from Alabama, from Georgia, like you see that, man. You see the spending, and that’s something that’s happening now. God bless him. He should go get the money.”

David Pollack, who played for Georgia in his own career, argued that there are concerns recruits should be worried about beyond the immediate payday. Specifically, he believes they should be concerned with positioning themselves for their potential NFL futures as well.

“What we don’t talk about and what we don’t understand, unless you play the game or you’re intimately involved in it, he makes this decision, I hope he gets his money. I hope he gets all of it and the contract is done correctly, which is not always a guarantee by any stretch at this level, but the problem is where he wants to get to is a first round pick, and you go make that life-changing money. He didn’t pick the best spot for that. That’s what I would argue. Here’s the combination that I want to make. I want to make money, yes,” Pollack said.

“I want to go to primetime atmospheres. I want the best of the best. I want to get the most bang for my buck. If I’m a college athlete, I want to play in the top environments in the country. I want to play in big-time Playoff games. I want to play against other dudes. I want to get developed and groomed from somebody that has a track record.”

To drive his point home, Pollack used his own son as an example. There, he would look at a set of questions or concerns in that decision-making process.

“I’m just telling you me, like if I was making those decisions, if Nicholas Pollack gets recruited and he’s starting to get talks with people,” Pollack said. “And we’re starting to talk to coaches, I’m just telling you this is how I would steer Nicholas. This is exactly what I would say to him. Do we love the environment? Is it going to put you in the best position to succeed? That money is good, but it’s not the most important thing. I’m just saying, that’s something that’s hard to look past as a recruit. So, that’s where I would say, I’m a little bit shocked because I think he could have gotten good money to go somewhere else and maybe gotten a chance to develop and turn into that life-changing, number one pick, first top-10 type of a pick.”

At Miami, Jackson Cantwell will be playing for Mario Cristobal, an offensive line coach at one point. He’s had two offensive linemen selected since getting to Miami in 2022, though current left tackle Francis Mauigoa is considered a possible top pick next year.