A Call From A Super Bowl Champ Helped Jackson Cantwell Decide On His College, Track Future

Jackson Cantwell said he recently received a phone call from Vince Wilfork, a Super Bowl champion nose guard and former Miami Hurricanes football great, when he was still deciding where to play college football.

Wilfork told Cantwell that he doesn't recruit on Miami's behalf often, but he and the nation's No. 1 recruit had something in common.

Wilfork, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, was an elite thrower out of high school and then broke indoor throwing records when he played for "The U."

Wilfork wanted to see Cantwell do the same.

"He told me that he used to not tell players to go there because it wasn't very good before," Cantwell said. "Once (Mario) Cristobal got there, he said he feels confident in telling guys to do it because he has the culture back and that there's a fantastic thing going on there."

Cantwell chose to play for Wilfork's alma mater and Cristobal in Coral Gables. He made his decision on Tuesday afternoon, picking the Hurricanes over Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon.

Cantwell also revealed that he will graduate from Nixa in December and enroll at Miami in the spring. That means he will forgo his senior season of track and field.

"At the end of the day, I'm a football player and I want to play football," Cantwell said. "That's the priority. I wanna get as good as I possibly can, and that's something that I'm really, really excited to do."

Cantwell is among the nation's best at the shot put and discus. Last summer, he won the national championship in the shot put and ranked high in the discus at Nike Nationals. His father, Christian Cantwell, is an Olympic silver medalist in the shot put. His mother, Teri Cantwell, also a previous Olympian for Team USA, was a two-time NCAA shot put champion during her career at SMU.

By foregoing his senior track season, Cantwell recognizes he's likely passing on the chance to break one of the most prestigious track and field records — Michael Carter's legendary shot put toss, which has stood since 1979. Rare are the athletes who are capable of challenging the mark. Three-time gold medalist Ryan Crouser, perhaps the greatest shot putter ever, spoke of Cantwell potentially breaking the record.

"I think that if I stayed my senior year, I would've had a chance," Cantwell said. "I still think I'll throw a lot farther this year."

However, Cantwell doesn't believe his throwing career is over just yet. He said he thinks Cristobal is on board with him throwing when the Hurricanes aren't in season.

He might use his new friend to help pursue him.

"I might try to get Vince to maybe, kindly, tell Coach Cristobal that it'd be a great thing for me to do," Cantwell laughed. "He can do it in whatever way he chooses, but I'll let him handle that."

Jackson Cantwell recruiting coverage

• MIAMI: Jackson Cantwell thinks Miami football has nation's best offensive line coaching duo
• FEATURE: What Jackson Cantwell, nation's No. 1 football recruit, has meant to Nixa
• TRACK & FIELD: How five-star prospect Jackson Cantwell thinks throwing helps him on the football field
• LIFE: What is life like for Jackson Cantwell as the No. 1 football recruit in the nation?
• FRESHMAN YEAR: Nixa's 6-foot-8 freshman Jackson Cantwell has Olympian parents, world records and a 33 ACT score

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Jackson Cantwell to Miami football: What his track future looks like