Jackson Cantwell of Nixa High School, the top college football prospect in the Class of 2026, will be the Kansas City Chiefs representative at Nike’s The Next Ones combine Saturday before Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
Last weekend, the offensive tackle announced his six college finalists. In alphabetical order, the top picks for the 6-7, 300-pounder are: Georgia, Michigan, Miami (Florida), Missouri, Ohio State and Oregon.
The 5-star recruit was a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year last season after leading Nixa to the Missouri Class 6A state finals. The Eagles finished No. 236 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, after losing to De Smet in the state championship game.
The one-day combine features 33 players, showcasing their talents, plus receiving guidance from NFL Legends and elite mentors. At last year’s event in Las Vegas, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Vick were part of the VIP experience. Each National Football League team, plus Europe’s NFL Academy, selects a high school player, who will take part in the event.
