Speaker 1 (00:00):
Nixa High School’s football season has kicked off with some exceptional players. I think we could say Jackson Cantwell is our most popular player right now. This is Cassidy Frank and Layla Garcia with EagleAir Podcasts. Thanks for tuning in. This will be Nixa’s last year having Jackson Cantwell, who is ranked as the number two recruit of class of 2026. Cantwell has contributed greatly to Nixa High School’s football team, and he has achieved a total of 153 pancake blocks , ran for a touchdown and one Gatorade player of the year. These are just a few of Cantwell’s, many achievements. Cantwell has strived in football and recently released that he will be playing for Miami after graduation. Really? Yes. Let’s hear more from Jackson Cantwell himself. So how have you been preparing for the upcoming football season?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well, I mean, it’s a lot of different ways. I mean, obviously at practice it’s a big thing, working hard there, but I mean, the weight room, that’s always a big emphasis watching film. There’s a lot that goes into that. I mean, off field recovery is a big thing as well, but you really can’t prepare just one way. There’s a lot of different ways you have to do if you want to be really successful.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
How are you feeling knowing that this will be your last year playing for nsa?
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It feels a little weird, man. I played a lot of games for Nixa, but it does feel weird that it’s finally coming to an end, but at the end of the day, I’m just excited to finish last year out with my guys.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Why did you choose Miami?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I mean, I think the coaches there, the culture they have with their football team and the university all played into it. I mean, I like the head coach and my position coach there a lot. The university is really cool. I like a lot of what they have going on with it. Being a private school with the classes being, I like their style of classes, not a hundred student classes, and I just like that they have a winning culture there and they just love getting better.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
How do you think Miami’s going to support you?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I mean, I think they’ve done a fantastic job so far. I mean, I think they’re really, especially the way their program is built, they want guys on offensive, a defensive lines to succeed with how they develop people, and I think they’re going to pour a lot into me as not only just an athlete, but also a person, and I’m really excited.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
How has our school been supporting you in football?
(02:01):
Well, the community’s fantastic. I mean, they always show up really well. They travel really well for games, better than a lot of schools around here, and at the end of the day, it’s really cool just to see exactly how much the community pours into football. I mean, you really don’t get a lot of support like this a lot other places, and that’s why having one school in the city is really cool so that everybody can show up on Friday night to support us.
(02:25):
Why did you choose to be a football player?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, I mean, I originally chose to be a football player because it just looked fun, honestly, playing football at recess, I enjoyed that and that was just what got me into it. Didn’t really take it as serious until I got to high school, but it was always a fun game regardless.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
How long have you been playing football?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, I played since fifth grade, but I haven’t played the position I played right now since I’ve been playing that since my freshman year.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What advice would you give to your fellow teammates?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I mean, I could give a lot of different advice. The biggest thing is just be where your feet are and enjoy exactly what’s going on right now. I mean, high school football doesn’t last forever, so got to enjoy it while it’s here.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
A special thanks to Jackson Cantwell for joining us. Keep a lookout for more news and stories about Jackson Cantwell. This is Cassidy Frank and Layla Garcia with the podcast EagleAir Podcasts, signing off.
