At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-8, 305-pound senior left tackle had led the Eagles to a 13-0 record and a berth in the Class 6 state championship game. The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, Cantwell anchored an offensive line that cleared lanes for an attack that averaged 45.8 points per game and 9.7 yards per play entering the title game. A two-time Gatorade Boys Track & Field State Player of the Year, Cantwell amassed 173 pancake blocks through 13 games. He’s ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026 by On3.com.
Cantwell has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. At the time of his selection, he had made a verbal commitment to receive athletic aid to play football at the University of Miami next fall.
A regular at Nixa’s weekly Leadership Academy, a meeting that explores leadership skills, Cantwell has volunteered locally at the Least of These Food Pantry, the only full-service pantry serving Christian County. He has also donated his time as a peer tutor and a youth track coach.
