Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney and national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. along with Tim Verghese of InsideNebraska.com and Jack Knowlton of TideIllustrated.com tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
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1. After experiencing the environment at Nebraska last weekend, the Huskers have the edge for 2026 five-star OL Jackson Cantwell.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Nebraska could definitely end up getting Jackson Cantwell, I’m just not sure any program has an edge right now in his recruitment. It doesn’t seem like that’s how the five-star is operating his recruitment. Instead, Cantwell is going to be at Missouri next weekend for the Vanderbilt game and then I expect him to take multiple SEC visits before making a decision.
Yeah, there are plenty of signals that Nebraska is in very good shape here. But I’ve also been told that Cantwell is going to make his choice off which program could develop him for the NFL. That could very well be at Nebraska especially if the Huskers keep building into a contender under coach Matt Rhule but I just don’t think any team has the edge right now.
Verghese’s take: FACT. There’s a long way to go in Cantwell’s recruitment but Nebraska has multiple factors working in their favor and Saturday’s win over Colorado only helped their chances. Cantwell has built strong relationships with Matt Rhule, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, Director of Player Personnel Keith Williams, among others. Nebraska’s physicality in the trenches under Rhule and Raiola has caught his attention. Dylan Raiola is in the five-star’s ear as well, as are multiple other players.
A phenom in field events, Nebraska has already pitched Cantwell on competing in shot put and discus as well as football. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s already building a relationship with head track and field coach Justin St. Clair, who’s considered one of the top throwing coaches in the country and helped lead the Huskers to two-straight Big Ten team titles. Factor in Nebraska’s relative proximity to his home in Nixa, his mother’s ties to the state (born in Crete, Neb.), and multiple extended family ties to the program, the Huskers have some real staying power in the five-star’s recruitment. Saturday’s environment in Memorial Stadium blew nearly every recruit in attendance away, including Cantwell. For many, Saturday’s win was the first time they got to experience what the program looks like when they’re winning. Cantwell’s got opportunities to contend for championships immediately at programs like Georgia, Alabama and Oregon, but Nebraska is showing they aren’t far off and have pitched him on being a key factor in making the leap from potential conference contender to playoff contenders.
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2. Alabama is a serious contender for Justus Terry after he visited Tuscaloosa last weekend.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I was told once Justus Terry decommitted from USC that Georgia, Alabama and Florida State would be the programs to watch but this really feels like a two-team race between the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide. What’s curious is that the five-star defensive lineman knows everything he could possibly need about the Bulldogs and still hasn’t re-committed.
Maybe Terry is just playing the game and it would be zero shock if he ended up back in Georgia’s class but there is something about the Crimson Tide that intrigues him. I’ll still keep my pick on Georgia for the in-state standout but Alabama is definitely a serious contender.
Knowlton’s take: FACT. Alabama was expecting Terry on campus for the Georgia game on Sept. 28 and getting him for a visit before that is a significant step for Alabama in this race. Terry could have visited Georgia for a home game that weekend but instead came to Tuscaloosa, meaning he’ll have taken two visits to Alabama in the last few weeks after he comes for the Georgia game. We’ve seen how strongly the Crimson Tide has pushed for Terry, immediately getting him on campus after he decomitted from USC. Georgia will be a tough beat here but Alabama is a clear number two and Terry has a strong relationship with defensive line coach Freddie Roach. With Terry’s commitment not expected until National Signing Day, Alabama has time to continue pushing hard.
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3. After decommitting from Florida State, five-star Javion Hilson is a near lock to Texas.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I would not be surprised at all if Javion Hilson ended up at Texas. The Longhorns are playing as well as any team in the country and they finished in second place the first time around when Hilson decided to pick the Seminoles. If the five-star defensive end winds up in Austin I would not be surprised one bit.
But the Cocoa standout is unpredictable. He was at Florida over the weekend to see both the Gators and Texas A&M. He has already been committed to Alabama and Florida State. If there’s one thing sure about Hilson’s recruitment it’s that there is uncertainty. Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and the Gators among others are all making a serious run at him. They cannot be ignored.
Garcia’s take: FACT. “Near” lock is the key here. Texas is the favorite, will get a return visit and already hosted Hilson for his official visit. However, he is adamant about two things — he wants to wait until December to finalize his plans and he wants to take a variety of trips in the process. Florida has him on campus this weekend and Texas A&M will get a return trip in the form of an official visit, too. Georgia, Alabama and others are also upping their communication with the elite pass rusher, so it’s never smart to count them out when we get closer to closing season on the trail. Texas nearly flipped Hilson in the summer and now the Longhorns will get their chance to win this recruitment when it counts most.
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