On the first-ever early National Signing Day, the Ohio State football program received some disappointing news when 5-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman committed to Clemson.
Carman, out of Fairfield, Ohio, is widely regarded as one of the top high school players in the 2018 class. Recruiting website 247Sports.com ranks the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder as the nation's top offensive tackle and No. 9 overall player.
Carman chose the Tigers over the Buckeyes and USC. He is just the second top-ranked player in the state of Ohio since 2011 to choose a program other than Ohio State.
Despite Carman's decision to spend his college career elsewhere, the Buckeyes' still currently lay claim to the No. 1 class in the 2018 recruiting cycle. Already on Wednesday, Ohio State has received national letters of intent from several of its highly committed prospects, including Ohio's No. 2 and No. 4 ranked players in running back Jaelen Gill and linebacker Dallas Gant.
The Buckeye State's No. 3 player, Cleveland Heights defensive end Tyreke Smith, remains uncommitted and is believed to be deciding between Ohio State and Penn State.
Nevertheless, missing out on Carman remains a serious blow for the Buckeyes, given the blue chip prospect's proximity Columbus. For head coach Urban Meyer, recruiting has rarely been an issue since he arrived at Ohio State in late-2011. But under his watch, it hasn't been often that the Buckeyes have lost a player who lived in their own backyard.
