ektogamat/Flickr, Graphic: Jenn Fong/Neon Tommy)

In a bit of a surprise, Boyle County (Danville, Kent.) linebacker Lamar Dawson, chose to sign with USC early Wednesday morning.

After the Danville mayor named the day Lamar Dawson Day, Dawson chose a Trojans' hat from a selection of five caps in front of his classmates in the Boyle County gymnasium.

Dawson said all along that he would visit five schools and then make a decision from those five. In the end, the Trojans beat out Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee and UCF.

At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Dawson could play either inside or outside linebacker for USC.

He is ranked as a four-star inside linebacker by by Scout and Rivals. Rivals also has Dawson as the top recruit in the state of Kentucky and the No. 3 inside linebacker in the nation.

ESPN has him listed as a three-star outside linebacker.

For more information on high school recruits potentially choosing USC, follow our National Signing Day coverage.

____

To reach Shotgun Spratling, click here, or follow him on Twitter @BlueWorkhorse.

Sign up for Neon Tommy's weekly e-mail newsletter.