The college football landscape is still reacting to five-star recruit Jackson Cantwell’s recent commitment to Miami (FL) over Georgia, which happened just a week ago. The news came as a surprise to many, especially since most recruiting analysts believed Georgia was the frontrunner leading up to his announcement. However, regardless of the speculation, the only thing that truly matters is that Cantwell has chosen to head south and join the Hurricanes.
Georgia fans were upset by the outcome, particularly after reports suggested that Miami made a late NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) offer increase, potentially influencing Cantwell’s decision. While Cantwell has publicly denied that NIL played a role—likely to protect his image—he’s no longer alone in defending that stance.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal recently backed Cantwell, and in doing so, appeared to indirectly criticize Georgia supporters—and possibly head coach Kirby Smart as well.
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“You see all that noise and trash? There’s an example of what’s irrelevant in life,” Cristobal remarked.
Was Cristobal justified in responding this way?
Smart had previously made a noteworthy comment following Cantwell’s commitment, stating that no freshman would ever join Georgia expecting to earn more than veteran players. Though he didn’t name Miami or Cantwell directly, many took it as a thinly veiled jab.
Similarly, Cristobal didn’t explicitly call out Georgia or Smart, but his comments certainly seem like a rebuttal. They also appear aimed at the broader public narrative—especially Georgia fans—many of whom believe Cantwell’s choice was motivated by financial incentives.
It’s unlikely that either coach will say much more about the situation, but it’s intriguing to watch two prominent Power Four head coaches subtly trade barbs. That said, both Cristobal and Smart are well within their rights to stand up for their programs and respond as they see fit.
