5-Star Jackson Cantwell Plummets in Rankings Hours After Spurning Georgia
In a whirlwind turn of events that sent shockwaves across the college football recruiting world, five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell has plummeted from No. 7 to No. 42 in the national composite rankings just hours after publicly turning down the University of Georgia in favor of the Missouri Tigers.
Cantwell, a 6-foot-8, 315-pound lineman with a wingspan that could wrap around a Prius, made headlines Monday afternoon when he stood at a podium in his Springfield high school gymnasium and shocked pundits by choosing Mizzou over perennial powerhouse Georgia. “I want to build something meaningful,” he said, his voice steady. “I’m staying home.”
Within three hours, every major recruiting outlet inexplicably recalibrated their rankings. Once hailed as a surefire first-rounder with “generational potential,” Cantwell suddenly found himself graded below players he had manhandled at national camps. The abrupt demotion raised eyebrows, and accusations of bias weren’t far behind.
“This smells like political punishment,” said former NFL scout Reggie Turner. “You don’t go from being the next Joe Thomas to borderline four-star overnight. Something stinks.”
Insiders suggest the fallout may be linked to Cantwell’s rebuke of a well-oiled recruiting machine. Georgia, fresh off its third national title in four years, had made Cantwell a centerpiece of its 2025 offensive rebuild. When he snubbed them, whispers of “coachable concerns” and “limited upside” began leaking from anonymous sources. Meanwhile, video of Cantwell rag-dolling future SEC defenders still trends on social media, seemingly contradicting his new ranking.
“Jackson made a personal choice — one rooted in family, in loyalty, in building something real,” said Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz. “If the rankings punish a kid for that, maybe it’s time we started ranking the rankers.”
The response from Georgia fans was predictably volatile. Online message boards lit up with everything from conspiracy theories to outright character assassination. Some accused Cantwell of “choking under pressure,” while others insisted he “lacked the killer instinct of a Bulldog.” A few even claimed he was “never really that good.”
But analysts are divided. Some defend the slide as a late-stage reassessment, citing “technical inconsistencies” in his footwork and concerns about Missouri’s ability to develop elite linemen. Others aren’t buying it.
“You don’t downgrade a five-star for choosing his home state unless you’re more concerned with narratives than evaluations,” said ESPN recruiting analyst Troy Mathis.
In the meantime, Cantwell doesn’t seem fazed. “I don’t play for stars. I play for Saturdays,” he tweeted, alongside a photo of him in black and gold, his arms crossed, jaw locked.
Only time will tell if the rankings reflect reality or retribution. But one thing is clear: Jackson Cantwell just made college football a lot more interesting — and a lot more uncomfortable.
