Fairfield’s Jackson Carman, one of nation’s top recruits, picks Clemson over Ohio State, USC

Nation’s top-rated offensive lineman signs with defending national champions

Jackson Carman is going to Clemson.

The five-star offensive line prospect announced his choice Wednesday morning at Fairfield High School.

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His other finalists were Ohio State and USC.

Carman is the No. 9 prospect in the country for 2018 and the top-rated offensive lineman.

In choosing the defending national champion Tigers, he became the first player rated No. 1 in Ohio to leave the state for college since Urban Meyer became Ohio State’s head coach in late 2011.

That includes current Buckeye Josh Myers of Miamisburg, the state’s top prospect last year.

Last time Ohio State failed to sign the top-rated player (according to at least one major service) in the state was 2007, when La Salle’s Ben Martin went to Tennessee.

Scout had Andrew Norwell of Anderson High School No. 1 in 2010 while 247 had Jordan Hicks of Lakota West and Rivals had Latwan Anderson of Glenville. Norwell was a Buckeye while Hicks went to Texas and Anderson ended up a Miami, Fla.

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