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Miami Hurricanes' Mario Cristobal has a very different reaction from Dan Lanning's viral video after securing pledge from five-star OT Jackson Cantwell
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes picked up a massive win on the recruiting trail on Tuesday, as five-star OT Jackson Cantwell (Nixa, Missouri) pulled the trigger and picked the Canes over Georgia, Oregon, and Ohio State. Cantwell is listed as the #1 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class by On3 Sports. 

Things perhaps didn't appear all that strong for Miami in advance of Cantwell's commitment date, as he had just visited Georgia last weekend.  The Bulldogs seemed to have been gaining momentum in recent days.  

However, to the delight of Cristobal, Cantwell gave him the good news on Tuesday afternoon, and oh, how happy the Canes' head man was. 

Cristobal's elated reaction to landing the Miami Hurricanes' biggest recruit perhaps ever was very different than one that has drawn a lot of attention lately from Cristobal's former stop.  Oregon head coach Dan Lanning drew a lot of backlash and ridicule on social media after a video went viral with him jumping into a swimming pool with 2026 5-star edge Richard Wesley to announce the latter's commitment to the Ducks. 

Personally, I don't have a problem with either celebration.  Lanning was having fun and showing a side of him that some recruits and players will watch and perhaps connect with on a personal level. 

But Cristobal's reaction speaks volumes without any bells or whistles.  It captures the thrill of the payoff from over a year of continuous work trying to land one of the most impactful players in the country.  It shows these men are people with raw emotions the same as the rest of us.  And for someone like Cristobal, who's normally a very reserved individual when it comes to showing his emotions - particularly positive or happy ones - that reaction indeed reflects strongly how much wins - on and off the field - mean to him. 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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