Two of central Ohio’s highest-ranked recruits from the 2013 class, Pickerington Central’s Taco Charlton and Pickerington North’s Jake Butt, have verbally committed to the University of Michigan.

Both took visits to Michigan on Feb. 18. Charlton verbally committed late that evening and Butt did the same early in the evening Feb. 19.

Butt, who is ranked No. 96 among Rivals.com’s top 100 prospects, is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound junior tight end. Last season, he finished with 27 catches for 424 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Panthers finish 8-2. Butt made the ThisWeek Super 25 and was first-team all-district at defensive end.

Butt had 18 Division I offers, although Michigan had been in the lead for his services for the past several weeks.

“I’m so pumped,” Butt said minutes after making his verbal commitment. “(It’s a) great program academically and athletically. They’re the perfect fit for me and my family.”

Charlton is a 6-6, 245-pound defensive end who had 14 offers. Last season, he helped the Tigers finish 11-3 and earn a Division I state runner-up finish.

Charlton also considered Big Ten schools such as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Purdue.

“I committed to Michigan because it was everything I wanted in one place,” Charlton said. “It gets no better than UM.”