Early Wednesday morning, Jackson Carman came to the realization that Clemson was the place where he wanted to continue his football career.

“This morning, after a long, hot shower,” Carman told reporters after signing at his school Wednesday. “When I finally had that realization that Clemson was the place for me, it was almost like a weight lifted off my shoulders.”

The five-star offensive lineman from Fairfield, Ohio, formally picked Clemson at 11 a.m. Wednesday during a school ceremony. The nation’s top-ranked offensive tackle chose to sign with Clemson instead of Ohio State or Southern Cal, his other two finalists.

“I’d like to thank all of the colleges that recruited me,” Carman said before putting on a Clemson hat. “And I’d like to thank coach Dabo and the Clemson Tigers’ staff for allowing me to be a part of their program.”

Carman’s decision was a shocker to many, as Ohio State was long considered the heavy favorite to land the in-state prospect.
But Carman isn’t surprised that he ultimately sided with the Tigers.

“I understand why everyone else would be surprised, me being from Ohio and Ohio State being who they are,” Carman said. “But I do feel like this is the best decision for me, and I’m glad I made it.”

Carman, the top-ranked prospect in the Buckeye State, said he broke the news to Urban Meyer around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Ohio State’s head coach made Carman a priority throughout the recruiting process but came up short in the end.

“He obviously wasn’t happy,” Carman said, “but that’s how this game goes.”

Clemson made up a lot of ground on Ohio State while hosting Carman for his official visit earlier this month. Dabo Swinney and the Tigers sealed the deal this week.

Carman is excited to join the Tigers’ historic 2018 signing class and play with the nation’s best at Clemson in the future.

“All the guys that are being recruited and signed by Clemson right now are all great guys,” Carman said. “Guys like Trevor (Lawrence) and Xavier (Thomas), they reach out and talk to me. When I told them this morning about my decision, they were all happy. That’s a great group of guys and I’m looking forward to hanging out with them for the next few years.”

Carman is ranked as high as the No. 9 prospect nationally per 247Sports. He is a U.S. Army All-American.