On Wednesday morning, Nixa (MO) 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell was named the 2025 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. Cantwell was surprised with the award by Joe Thomas, a legendary lineman with the Wisconsin
Badgers and the Cleveland Browns. The two have a long relationship, and that’s why Thomas was asked to present Cantwell with this award, known as the High School Heisman.
A four-time MaxPreps All-American and two-time Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year, Cantwell’s elite performance has been well chronicled. The 6’7” 325lb Tackle is a unanimous 5-star prospect on every recruiting service, and he figures to be on a quick path to the field in college at Miami. Cantwell joins an elite group of players to have won this award, including Kyler Murray, Joe Mauer, Ronald Curry, Peyton Manning, and Emmitt Smith.
Following the surprise announcement ceremony at Nixa HS, I had the pleasure of an exclusive interview with Cantwell and Thomas. We spoke about the award, the surprise, their relationship, Cantwell’s strengths on the field, and much more.
Cam Underwood (SOTU): Jackson, you’re one of the best players in America. 4-time MaxPreps All-American, 2-time Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year, and now Gatorade National Player of the Year. Tell me how you’re feeling?
Cantwell: “The award that I won this year — as of like 30 minutes ago — was one of my goals for this year. I had two goals coming into this year, and I went 1/2 on those, and that is the one I succeeded on. Somehow the harder one, actually. So at the end of the day, it’s really cool to get this award. A lot of storied people on here that have won it, so it’s probably the most rewarding one I’ve had so far, right at the tail end of my career.”
SOTU: And what was the other award you were looking forward to?
Cantwell: “We missed on the State Championship, man. We were really close, had a hard fought game. But at the end of the day, it feels really good to bring in my second goal, and win [the Gatorade Player of the Year] instead”.
SOTU: Outstanding. So Joe, you were an All-American in your time at Wisconsin, and a legendary NFL player. What did it mean for you to be able to bestow this iconic award upon Jackson?
Thomas: “It was really special for me to be able to be here to present the award to him, and allow him to understand that he was the winner. It was a great surprise that we gave him. It’s kind of a full-circle moment a little bit because him and I became friends when he started in high school. And then we got a chance to meet this summer at the Offensive Line Masterminds camp down in Dallas, and get a chance to meet the person. And as good of football player as he is, Jackson’s an even better person.
And it gives me a lot of pride to know that with his name on that trophy, there will be a lot of people that are able to look up to him, not only for what he’s done on the football field, but off the football field and in the community, as a great teammate and great human being.
And actually, his dad [Olympian Christian Cantwell] was an amazing shot putter, and so was his mom [Olympian Terri (Steer) Cantwell]! But his dad was actually one of my idols when I was a thrower in high school and college. So, it’s kinda cool that I looked up to his dad, and then Jackson looked up to me, and I was able to come out here today to present this award to him.”
SOTU: Oh wow! I didn’t know you were a thrower too!
Thomas: “It actually helped my offensive line technique. I was a glider in the shot put and that’s how I started my pass pro. The style was a little unconventional, but I took it all the way through the NFL. So I took a lot of stuff from the [throwing] ring and applied it to my football career.”
SOTU: And so Jackson, do you do the same thing, transitioning the ring to the football field? What’s that been like for you with both your parents being Olympians in the same event?
Cantwell: “I think there’s definitely some carry over. There’s a reason why offensive line coaches like to recruit guys who throw the shot put and the discus. I mean, the explosiveness from it. The technique. The footwork. That’s the kind of stuff that I got from Track and Field, and combine that with the training that I got from my dad, who competed at the highest level of Track and Field for over a decade, that’s a lot of what got me here today.
Also, playing multiple sports. I have a basketball background growing up as well, to go along with Track and Football. Being able to do all that stuff is the most important thing for offensive linemen is to come from a background like that, where you can develop your athleticism, develop your power, and have a good foundation to learn the position from.”
SOTU: Great answer. So, let’s take it back a step. I didn’t get to see the surprise of Joe being there to give you the award. Tell me how the surprise went today. Walk me through what happened.
Cantwell: “So, my coach told me we were doing something at an elementary school in town. We were gonna do an assembly and some interview. And he mentioned the guy doing the interview, that I’d heard of him, and I never had, so that was the first thing where I thought “hey, that’s a little weird…” but I was like whatever.
Then, coach said the bus we were gonna take over to the other school wasn’t working, so let’s head over to the high school, let’s go meet them because they were going to move the event over there. Then he led me in a corridor indoors I’d never been in before. I was like “why are we going in this way?” I didn’t even know that door opened. Coach was just like the other door doesn’t work. I said “that other door worked just fine yesterday, but whatever you say, coach!”
So I walk in and I see a bunch of my teammates, and a bunch of cameras staring at me. And I was like “uh…what did I do?!” You know, it’s weird when like a hundred people are dead silent looking at you. And then Joe walked out with the trophy and I was like “oh my goodness, that’s crazy!”
SOTU: So Joe, you were just there already waiting with the trophy for the big reveal?
Thomas: “Yeah, it was a great surprise. He had all his teammates, and family and friends in front, and I was kind of hiding behind, holding the trophy. Then, they parted the Red Sea and I was able to come through and announce to Jackson that he was the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
It was a special moment, just seeing the look on his face. And, for me, as an offensive lineman, we’re playing a position that doesn’t get a lot of credit a lot of times, and to be the first offensive lineman with his name on this trophy is really special.”
Note: I had to be the bearer of bad news and share that 2 other linemen had previously won the award, but Cantwell is the first pure offensive lineman to win the award since 2003, and only the 2nd pure offensive lineman ever to receive this honor.
Cantwell: “I looked through the 2010’s [on the Gatorade Player of the Year website] and didn’t see one, so I didn’t think they did that. Still an honor to be one of the only ones, if not the first one.”
SOTU: What does this award do for you as you move forward to Miami and your college career?
Cantwell: “It inherently doesn’t [do anything]. But, it’s pretty cool as far as getting recognized for the last 4 years of high school, and the work I’ve put in. I was in the finalists last year, but I knew I wasn’t going to win. But I thought this year I had a good chance since I was returning [and the other finalists weren’t].
And I put together a pretty good high school campaign. 198 pancakes. 502 for my career. I did the math on that last night actually. But I put a lot into this, and it could not be a better feeling to be rewarded as such. This is such a prestigious award, and even being in the conversation last year meant a lot.
I was sure offensive linemen really didn’t get included in basically the High School Heisman Trophy. So it was pretty cool to be announced as the Gatorade National Player of the Year, and I couldn’t have been more surprised than I was about 40 minutes ago walking in and seeing that group for the announcement.”
SOTU: Joe, your entire career you played on the left side, set it and forget it. Jackson, is that something that you hope to emulate, having that one spot you perfect?
Cantwell: “Well, I’ve played a little bit of everything before. I’ve played Left Tackle, Right Tackle, and Tackle over Tight End at my high school. I played Right Tackle and Left Guard in the Under Armour All-American Game last year. I think can play anything other than Center on the offensive line. I don’t know how to snap, to be honest with you. I can do the other four, I don’t think anyone’s going to ask me to snap in my life [Joe Thomas smiled, laughed, and shook his head at this detail about snapping, agreeing nobody would ask Cantwell to do that task]
I can pass protect from either side, run block from either side. It really depends on what coach Mirabal and coach Cristobal need me to do. But, at the end of the day, I’ll do whatever is best for the team. Wherever they need me, I’ll put my all into it, that’s for sure.”
SOTU: I love that answer, and I love that attitude. Joe, as a longtime player and now analyst, put your analyst hat on for me. What are the biggest strengths Jackson brings to the field?
Thomas: “Well, he can do it all.
But, if I had to say what’s the one BIGGEST strength, it’s the explosiveness. You can see it how he throws the shot put and discus. To be able to create force from the ground up with your feet, move people off their spot, that allows you to absorb bull-rush and anchor at the point of attack. It allows you to move quickly in pass protection, and change direction. That’s really the thing that matters the most.
There’s a reason why they don’t just take the world’s strongest men and powerlifting champions and put them on the offensive line. You gotta be able to move fast, and you gotta be able to create force quickly, and that’s exactly what Jackson can do.”
SOTU: Great answer and great description of Jackson as a player. Last question, Jackson what are your thoughts as the Canes head into the College Football Playoffs to try and play for a National Championship?
Cantwell: “Well, they’ve got a really good team. We’re starting to get all our guys back healthy. And I feel pretty good about where we’re at. I feel like Miami can compete with just about anybody and I’m excited to see how it goes down. Miami has a lot of talented players, and players make plays, so we’ll see how it goes!”
SOTU: Great answer to wrap things up. Jackson, congratulations on this award. Thank you for taking this time. Joe also, thank you for joining us for this great conversation.
Cantwell: “Thank you very much! I appreciate it!”
Thomas: “It was a pleasure!“
