2013 RB Wyatt Shallman Visit Reaction

Submitted by TomVH on

[Ed: also check out Tom's Jehu Chesson interview.]

Detroit Catholic Central is the home of 2012 commit DE Matt Godin and 2013 RB target Wyatt Shallman (6'3", 248 lbs). Both were in attendance at Michigan's BBQ on Sunday and took in all the festivities. The event was probably more important for Shallman since his teammate Godin is already committed to the Wolverines. Here's a look at Wyatt's sophomore film and what he had to say about the event.

TOM: I know you're friends with a lot of the 2013 instate prospects, so did you guys all hang out at the BBQ?

WYATT: Yeah I was with the 2013 guys a lot. Shane [Morris] and [Jonny] Reschke. Their schools are two of our biggest rivals and usually Catholic Central kids wouldn't be caught dead with them. It was fun to sit down and not talk about high school football. It's interesting to talk about Michigan and to get a point of view from other teams about our high school. They're all a bunch of great guys, and they're all funny. Steve [Elmer] is a good guy too. He's a big dude; he's a beast. All of the 2013 kids are great.

TOM: Because of proximity I'm assuming you don't get to see Steve Elmer as much as the other guys. Was that your first time meeting him?

WYATT: The first time I ever met Steve I had heard about him during the season last year. I heard about some big dude and then I met him at the Notre Dame spring game for the first time. He's a teddy bear off the field but he's a killer on the field.

TOM: What was it like being out there with some of the guys that have committed already? Were they talking Michigan up?

WYATT: That was something that was interesting. A lot of the kids that were there today it's not like I knew them, I've played them though. Like James Ross. I know Danny O'Brien through Matt [Godin]. We were all just hanging out and playing catch out on the field and there was some chemistry with everyone. It was a different experience to get to know everyone in that atmosphere.

TOM: Since you're relatively close to Michigan have you been up there quite a bit, or was this all a new experience for you?

WYATT: I live twenty minutes away and the only time that I've really been there was to an Ohio State game in seventh grade, and also when I got my offer. This time we walked around campus, took a tour, and it was interesting to learn all the tradition and old things that are behind Ann Arbor. It's a cool little funky town. This visit was pretty sweet, I liked it a lot. Anytime you go on a visit and get good food and get to go on the field it's going to help. Plus the coaching staff is awesome, they're all really funny guys.

TOM: Since Matt Godin is your teammate and committed to Michigan has he been trying to recruit you at all?

WYATT: Matt and I, the recruiting has kind of cooled off because we're focused on the season. These visits aren't really the main attention right now. We start conditioning and two-a-days and we have our season right now to look at. He's been working hard though, and I'm really excited for his future. 

TOM: With your recruitment do you really know yet what you're looking for? 

WYATT: I don't know what I'm looking for yet, which is why I want to wait to decide. This isn't NCAA Football '12 where you can recruit a kid because he likes the college closer to home. There's a lot that goes into this, and there isn't one set thing that will make me go to a college. If it's the right fit for my family and I feel comfortable there then that's what I want.

Comments

Mr Mackey

August 2nd, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^

Hopefully he'll be a quick addition to the 2013 class - sounds like a great guy, and he's one hell of a big back.

Also, filled with some great quotes about Ann Arbor being a "funky little town" and Elmer being a "teddy bear off the field but a killer on the field." It'd sure be running behind him at Michigan, right Wyatt? Hint hint..

MGOUSMC

August 2nd, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^

This kid already sounds like a well spoken Michigan man to me.  I really get the feel that he was calm, cool and confident while answering these great questions by TomVH. I think he already knows where he's gonna play ball, MANBALL.

readyourguard

August 2nd, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^

I wouldn't mind watching him plow through the line a couple dozen times per game.  I hope he feels a sense of brotherhood with the current commits and wants to be part of the family.

Go Blue, big fella.

Tell em Wyatt's comin...

and he's bringin hell with him.

Mr. Yost

August 2nd, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^

WYATT: I live twenty minutes away and the only time that I've really been there was to an Ohio State game in seventh grade, and also when I got my offer.  

Duval_Blue

August 2nd, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^

How can you live 20 minutes away, and know so little about the program? Is he a Spartan or ND fan? Or one of those kids that doesn't have a preference to a college team. I bet he moves far, far away. Hope not, but he seemed like he was laying the groundwork to go elsewhere...

Don

August 2nd, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^

The video screams "tight end" to me. The kid from Utah has much quicker feet and has much more burst at the point of contact. Shallman is sort of lumbering by comparison.

TomVH

August 2nd, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^

There's a big difference between the two you're talking about. Sione Houma is 5 foot 11, 210 pounds where as Wyatt has about 4 inches and almost 40 pounds on him. 

Wyatt is also only 15 years old, where Sione is probably around 17.

Don

August 2nd, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^

That's why I think he'll end up playing most of his college ball (on offense) as a TE, not a FB/RB. It's not far-fetched to think he'll grow another inch and put on 10 lbs in the next year, and 6-4/250  would be pretty typical TE size for a freshman at the college level.

bubblelevel

August 2nd, 2011 at 4:00 PM ^

reading some of the other details he isn't exactly plodding.  In his interview a while back it was noted that he has a 38 inch vertical and had a shuttle at Nike of 4.18.  He's not going to be a 4.4 guy if that's what you are looking for.  I thought I read that Mike Hart was a 4.7 in the NFL combine.  Personally I see greater potential as a DE or LB given his size and age.

Don

August 2nd, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^

I would agree that his speed for his size is good, but I just didn't see anything special carrying the ball from the line of scrimmage. However, when he caught a pass out in the open he has some nice moves and good enough speed for a TE. It wouldn't surprise me if he ended up at DE or LB as you guessed.

DuganFifeFor3

August 3rd, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^

this guy looks like he can still fill out some and  maybe add an inch...before he makes it to college.  reminds me a lot of a craig roh type of player: tall, athletic, and built.  he would be scarey coming off the edge at either DE or LB...or maybe a little of both?  hopefully godin is in his ear and hoke can sign him up.

DCLems

August 3rd, 2011 at 8:16 AM ^

I just meant that this was probably one of the first recruiting-like substances he has been a part of so he probably was just trying to enjoy the day and hang out with other elite talent. He WILL be a Junior this Fall so it is very early in his process for him to be worrying about where he will end up.