New Miami commit Jackson Cantwell continues to shine in shot put ahead of football season

Jackson Cantwell has garnered plenty of attention thanks to his status as the nation’s top high school football prospect in the 2026 cycle. The new Miami Hurricanes commit also happens to shine in another sport.

The son of two shot put Olympians, Cantwell is, to no surprise, also elite at the track and field event. In his final time throwing at Nixa (Mo.) High, the 6-foot-7.5, 315-pounder set the standard once again.

A 74-feet, nine-and-a-half inch throw from the star athlete makes him the national leader this season and brought him within just one centimeter of his personal record, according to Ozarks Sports Zone.

“I had a good feeling coming out of my hand, I didn’t know exactly how far it was, I saw it was past the 22-line, so I was like it definitely had to be an improvement,” Cantwell said. “Definitely a solid throw, best one I’ve had this year. It’ll keep getting better — I’m still waiting for a PR, but it’ll come at some point.”

Cantwell is the son of former USA Olympians Christian and Teri (Steer) Cantwell. His father is a five-time world champion and won a silver medal in the shot put at the 2008 Beijing games and in 2004 had the top four shot put throws in the world. Teri Cantwell participated in the 2000 Sydney games and was a two-time NCAA shot put champion at SMU.

Cantwell owns the Missouri state record in shot put and he also excels in the discus throw. Before he gets back to dominating on the football field, the towering five-star is giving Miami fans glimpses at his impressive athleticism.

Miami landed commitment from Cantwell this month

The high-profile recruitment of the offensive tackle came to an end on May 13, as he committed to the Hurricanes over Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State.

“I picked Miami because of the relationships I had at the school and because of how good the offensive line coaching is with Cristobal and (Alex) Mirabal,” Cantwell said. “They recruited me the hardest out of any school and had a great development plan for me, and have had a history of giving young guys that are worthy a chance to play.”

A premier talent in the trenches, Cantwell is a monumental addition for head coach Mario Cristobal and OL coach Alex Mirabal. He’s likely to make an immediate impact upon arrival in Coral Gables, according to On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power:

“Cantwell has been one of the top physical talents in the 2026 cycle from the outset. At over 6-foot-7 and around 315 pounds, Cantwell has a large frame and holds his weight exceptionally well. The frame is well-proportioned with a lean lower body, solid weight distribution, and big hands. He is a highly explosive, powerful athlete with outstanding functional movement skills on the football field,” Power wrote.

“The elite strength and explosion also show up in track and field, where he doubles as a national standout thrower in the shot put and discus. The son of two Olympian throwers, Cantwell broke the sophomore national record in the shot put last spring with a preposterous 74-9.75 foot throw. So far as a junior, Cantwell ranks first nationally in the shot put (73-4 feet) and eighth nationally in the discus (206 feet). For context, we view shot put throws of 50+ feet as outstanding for linemen prospects. Cantwell also touts incredible weight room strength.”

More on what Cantwell brings to Miami here.