Bellevue recruit Schilling chooses Michigan over UW

Stephen Schilling didn't stay home, but at least he won't have to adjust to the helmets.

Schilling, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior tackle from Bellevue High School considered among the nation's elite linemen, accepted a scholarship Thursday to play college football for Michigan. Both schools share the Wolverines mascot and the distinctive striped maize-and-blue headgear.

Schilling, who was recruited by colleges across the country, picked Michigan over the Washington Huskies and California. He had eliminated USC on Monday.

"The main thing is I wanted to get away and take advantage of my opportunities to do something different," Schilling said. "Michigan's a great program. I felt like it was the best opportunity for me to be successful in academics and in athletics."

True to his low-key personality, Schilling announced his decision on a weekday night in front of a small group of family members that included his mother, aunt, grandmother, cousins and sister. None of them knew of his decision before Thursday.

"They wanted me to do the hat thing," Schilling said of laying out the school caps of the finalists, and picking up the one belonging to the chosen program. "So I did it for them."

Schilling had been asked by a local television station if he wanted to broadcast his decision. But he turned down the offer, explaining, "It's not really who I am."

Schilling said if he had chosen Washington, he might have done so on air for local fans.

Schilling didn't pick the Huskies, but said he is optimistic that coach Tyrone Willingham can turn around a program that has totaled three victories in the past two seasons.

"I liked them a lot," he said of the Huskies. "There were a lot of great opportunities there, and I know they're going to turn it around under coach Willingham."

Schilling's announcement means that the Huskies end up with just one of the three top in-state prospects: Ferndale quarterback Jake Locker, who led his team to the Class 3A title. O'Dea safety Taylor Mays already has announced he would play for USC.

Recruiting analysts believed that Schilling, a dominating blocker who played on three state-championship teams, would be the key to the perception of the struggling Washington program's incoming class.

Wednesday is the first day that high-school seniors can sign letters of intent for college football.

Schilling said he made up his mind "probably 10 days ago."

"I had a good idea, but I didn't want to announce it right away," he said. "I just wanted to evaluate all three schools more. I didn't want to rush anything."

A coach from Cal came by Monday night, followed by one from Michigan on Tuesday night and Washington's representative on Wednesday night.

The Huskies, meanwhile, picked up another verbal commitment from a junior-college offensive lineman — Aaron Mason, a 6-6, 295-pounder from Santa Monica College. He is Washington's 18th commitment for the Class of 2006 and the fifth offensive linemen. Two of the linemen are JC transfers.

Seattle Times staff reporter Bob Condotta contributed to this report. Michael Ko: 206-515-5653 or mko@seattletimes.com