CINCINNATI — It’s a life-changing moment for those players that get drafted in the NFL this weekend. But for Jackson Carman, a Cincinnati native, getting picked by his hometown team was extra sweet.
What You Need To Know
- Jackson Carman is a Fairfield High School graduate, a school just north of Cincinnati
- Carman played three years as an offensive lineman at Clemson before declaring for the NFL Draft
- Carman was the 46th overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, his hometown team
- Carman said getting the chance to play in the town he grew up in is a huge honor
This wasn’t just any phone call. It was a dream come true.
“As soon as I saw the 513 come up, I knew what was going on," Carman said. "It was crazy."
Carman was not only picked to play in the NFL, but for his hometown team of the Cincinnati Bengals. Carman was the 46th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“It means the world to me," he said. "I was born in this city. I went to high school here and it’s just like really surreal how everything ties me back to where I’m from.”
The Fairfield High School grad spent three years playing at Clemson before declaring for the draft. But even after leaving Ohio, Carman stayed close to his Fairfield roots.
Jason Krause, his high school coach, even hosted his draft party.
“Obviously, just how proud I am of him," Krause said. "What he’s been through, where he came from, what he’s become and how he’s matured.”
Carman said through the constant hugs and phone calls, he’s still taking it all in.
“Honestly, I’m just blessed," Carman said. "I never thought it would happen like this. I’m just super excited to get started and get ready.
And now, he said he's ready to represent his city.
“I got the call, I was instantly like, it was just surreal," he said. "It was one of those memories that you never forget. And I’m so excited that I’ll be around my family and give back to the city that raised me. It’s just like, it’s amazing.”