We need more details. Wait, you're not talking about one of the Xenyx XL series are you? If so, I think the user manual covers the EQ.

The can is literally a 15 dollar metal garbage can. I think we are gonna slap a condenser mic on it. The board is a presonus. the room is literally a big cube. Eclectic mix of speakers and subs. Is there a drum that would be best to EQ to and then tweak from there...high tom EQ and the blend with a snare mix?

get this feeling that is going to "sharp" if it is done wrong

OK, what effect do you want to achieve? Is this to be the sound of someone kicking the garbage can or throwing a large object into it, or do you want a certain resonant metallic noise that is not specifically a garbage can?

The aim with recording anything such as this is not to think about using EQ. Get the sound you want by microphone choice, placement in the room and the way you hit the object. Only apply EQ later if it's needed to match your recording to the sonic character of the rest of the soundtrack or whatever you are recording it for.

Don't use too high a gain trim setting on the Presonus - aim for no more than -12dBFS on the meters. Percussive effects like this can have very large and fast transients that overload the inputs of mic pre-amps without it being flagged by LEDs or other metering devices. Use the pad on the mic if it has one. Bring the level up again in the mix if there's a need.