You'd have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the last time the consensus top-rated player from the state of Ohio went anywhere other than Ohio State. But following in the footsteps of former Cincinnati La Salle defensive end Ben Martin is something Fairfield five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman is seriously considering.
No, the 6-foot-6, 347-pound Carman won't end up at Tennessee. But a different shade of orange might do.
“Clemson is 1A and Ohio State is 1B,” he told Eleven Warriors at Nike Football's The Opening Cleveland Regional on Sunday, noting he's also considering offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, USC and Wisconsin.
The combine-style event, which featured more than 300 of the Midwest's top prospects, was Carman's first public appearance since he claimed the Tigers were his top school following an unofficial visit two weeks ago. Though he admittedly showed up a bit heavier than expected, Carman was one of four invited to The Opening Finals in Oregon this summer.
“I just think I feel more comfortable at Clemson, in a sense. I don't feel like there's as much pressure on me at Clemson,” he said. “Like when I go to Ohio State, people automatically assume I'm a Buckeye. I don't necessarily take too kind to that because I'm just making sure the people around me aren't dictating or influencing my decision.”
Carman's mindset, interestingly enough, is almost the complete opposite of Clemson's most recent commit, Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas. The second-ranked player in the country is originally from Florence, South Carolina, and chose to end his recruitment on Saturday, which allows him to become the leader of the Tigers' 2018 recruiting class.
“To be completely honest, no. Not for me,” Carman said when asked if there is any pressure to play for the home-state Buckeyes. “It's not something I've necessarily had to stand on or lean back on or something I've said in the back of my mind that I have to stay home.”
Of course, Westerville South four-star running back Jaelen Gill has taken on that role instead. He's not been shy about recruiting Carman, and was even in his ear a little bit this weekend.
“It's nice, I appreciate it. But it wouldn't necessarily get to me like some of the other recruits,” Carman said.
For now, Carman is simply enjoying the recruiting process. He plans to take all five official visits this fall and then make a decision sometime in December. But first on the docket? A return to Columbus for the Spring Game this Saturday, during which he expects the staff to roll out the red carpet.
“I think there's almost pressure on the Ohio State staff since I named Clemson my No. 1," Carman said. "They've been turning things up a little bit."
