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Posted on Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.

Michigan surges ahead of Ohio State with two 2013 commitments, including state's No. 3 player Wyatt Shallman

By Kyle Meinke

Two days after losing its 2013 recruiting lead to Ohio State, the Michigan football team pulled back ahead of the Buckeyes with a pair of commitments Saturday afternoon.

The arms race is back on between the rivals.

The Wolverines received non-binding verbal commitments from Illinois offensive lineman Kyle Bosch and Detroit Catholic Central fullback/defensive lineman Wyatt Shallman, both of whom were on campus with a group of elite junior prospects.

They are commitment Nos. 4 and 5 for Michigan, a Big Ten best. Ohio State is one back at four. Michigan State has two.

Bosch and Shallman join quarterback Shane Morris, safety Dymonte Thomas and tight end/fullback Khalid Hill in the 2013 class.

Morris (Warren DeLaSalle) and Shallman are two of their state's five best prospects, according to Scout Midwest recruiting expert Allen Trieu. That's a tremendous start, and one that follows a 2012 cycle during which the Wolverines earned commitments from seven of Michigan's 10 best players.

Trieu said he doesn't expect the Wolverines to grab seven of the top 10 players for 2013, but mostly because the in-state talent isn't as good as it was in 2012. He thinks Michigan will go out-of-state more than it did for Brady Hoke's first full recruiting class.

Shallman, a four-star prospect who projects as Scout's No. 3 in-state recruit, plays on the defensive line and at fullback for Detroit Catholic Central. He is expected to play offense at Michigan, Trieu said.

"He got hurt as a junior, so I think it makes it a little harder to evaluate him, but he's definitely an intriguing prospect because he's listed at 250 pounds, and he's probably even bigger now," Trieu said. "He could play tailback, but he's probably going to end up at fullback, and can play H-back.

"I don't think they know what they're going to do with him, but no matter where he ends up, he's a pretty athletic guy who can do a lot of things."

Shallman was high school teammates with defensive lineman Matthew Godin, a member of Michigan's 2012 class. He also works out with former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis.

Shallman chose Michigan over schools such as Cal, Florida, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon and Wisconsin, among others.

His commitment came less than an hour after Bosch pledged to the Wolverines. The Wheaton, Ill., offensive lineman is a four-star recruit according to Rivals.

Scout has yet to rank Bosch, but Trieu said he will be given four stars and included among his state's top 10 prospects. That's notable because Illinois is loaded with 2013 talent.

Bosch is listed at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds. At that height, he probably projects to play guard, especially since the 2012 class includes three prototypical-sized tackles.

"He's a little bit of a throw-back," Trieu said. "He's a tough, blue-collar kind of guy. ... He definitely plays with intensity, almost like he has a chip on his shoulder.

"He's not a top national guy yet, but he'll be a high-ranking four-star. He's a dependable guy. I don't think you have to worry about him being bust."

Bosch had an impressive offer list that included schools such as Alabama, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Stanford and at least 15 others.

Shallman's junior highlights

Bosch's highlights

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.

Comments

Blu n Tpa

Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 11:44 a.m.

"Meyer is a much better recruiter than Hoke ...not to mention WAY better coach." Well nothing like making stuff up on your way to Fantasy Land. Meyer's winning precentage vs Coach Hoke ---0.00%. Meyer's winning percentage vs Michigan---0.00%. Which means conversly Coach Hoke has a 1.000% vs Meyer and Meyer coached football teams. "Way better coach?" You got that right but misspelled the name ...Hoke! Now run along home and see if you can get just a little closer to reality next time you visit. Why? Because "THIS IS MICHIGAN! Go Blue!

mgillette

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.

Bosch needs to remember that D-linemen can tell where he is going when he telegraphs his moves. He's pointing where he will go

mgillette

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.

with that said the kid can role over people!

C. Lawler

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 12:25 a.m.

Roger- Have you ever been to Ohio? It is the ugly duckling of the midwest and armpit of the nation. Football is the only thing they have to live for in Ohio! You can rip U-M as much as you try but with perennial top ten recruiting classes they are going to be Urban's LSU/Alabama of the B1G.

Ben Hopkins

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.

TTUN surges past Ohio State...with one recruit and it's Feb. 18th...2012! This is a bit premature...don't you think? OSU will get about 18-20 recruits in 2013 and TTUN will get about 22-25 or so (again). I put my house on a bet that OSU will..."surge" past TTUN (again) in 2013 final recruiting standings. Write this article around Feb. 2nd 2013...then will see who "surges" past who. Surges...LOL with one guy. TTUN fans and writers apparently look for ANYTHING to make themselves look better than OSU...what a laugh. And I agree with the last comment from Roger...we don't want kids that don't want to be apart of OSU. Wanna make any bets Kyle OSU flips Dymonte Thomas and lands Devan Smith (two kids that like OSU as well as your team)...take it to the bank my maze and blue man...it will happen. Meyer is a much better recruiter than Hoke...not to mention WAY better coach.

C. Lawler

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 12:51 a.m.

Isn't there a grungy bucknut forum somewhere that u can post on?

C. Lawler

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.

Who are the States # 1 and #2 players and is U-M in the running?

Roger

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.

This is putting a positive spin based upon simple numbers. So M gets a kid from M and one from Illinois. The bottom line is M has never been an elite program without elite players from Ohio. M can get as many kids as they want from other places but if they can't get the best kids in Ohio they will be average. I also noticed neither of these kids were offered by Ohio State. M will be able to continue to get all those they want.

Melvin

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.

Ohio State did offer Shallman.

C. Lawler

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.

Go post on a columbust forum.

Scott

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.

Nothing fancy about the way Shallman runs. He's a one trick pony but the pony is a Clydesdale.

boobooman

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.

Jourdan Lewis, as turbonerd posted has committed, as has his teammate at Cass Tech, David Dawson. Four commits today!

MikeB

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.

It will be interesting to see how the rankings come out in Michigan, especially with the two big Detroit Metro area papers the Free Press and News. We already know that the Free Press will choose whoever the best player who commits to MSU as the states top player but the News is usually pretty even handed It is nice to see the competition between UM and Ohio back on an even keel

turbonerd

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.

Add one more to the list, Jourdan Lewis, since this article. Great start BLUE!

Sparky79

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.

You mean two more... Lewis and his teammate OL David Dawson

TcFlint

Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.

Another incredible start for Coach Hoke and Michigan. Keep it going and GO BLUE!!!

ted

Sun, Feb 19, 2012 : 2:54 a.m.

I really believe we have Urban Meyer to thank for this. With him getting such top-flight talent it is logical that those not chosen by the Buckeyes will at least have Michigan to choose from. It turns out that it is a good thing thfor Michigan that Meyer is now the head coach of Ohio State.