Five highest rated 2026 recruits who visited Michigan for spring practices  

The spring evaluation period is underway, and the Michigan coaching staff will hit the road to see top recruits on Monday. After several weeks of hosting prospects in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines will continue garnering momentum on the trail before the summer official visits slate.

The Wolverine examines the five targets in the 2026 recruiting class who stepped foot on campus earlier this spring and where Michigan currently stands, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, the industry’s first algorithm and machine learning-based product to predict where athletes will attend college. 

Top 100 RB Savion Hiter, Mineral (Va.) Woodberry Forest

Industry Ranking: No. 26 Overall, No. 1 Running Back, No. 1 in Virginia
RPM: Virginia (23.1%), Ohio State (20.2%), James Madison (9.1%), Michigan (7.6%)
U-M Visit: April 18
He Said It: “Coach Alford is great. We had a great bond at Ohio State. I’m glad he moved over to Michigan. I’m looking forward to keep building my bond with him at a new school. He’s very straightforward. He doesn’t BS about anything. I just really like him.”

Savion Hiter picked up an offer from Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford two weeks after the reigning national champions officially announced the latter’s hire. Alford previously recruited Hiter during his tenure at Ohio State, so the visit last week was a reunification for the sophomore and his close circle. The attention to detail behind the operation really impressed the family, as well as the welcoming feeling that they received when arriving at Schembechler Hall.

Top 100 OL Darius Gray, Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher’s School

On3 Ranking: No. 42 Overall, No. 4 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Virginia
RPM: South Carolina (31.7%), Penn State (16.9%), UNC (9.8%), Michigan (4.3%)
U-M Visit: April 18
He Said It: “Michigan has always been at the top. I always wanted to have the option to play for Michigan. The reason for that is offensive linemen are going to the NFL every year.”

Darius Gray made the 10-hour drive from his home state to Ann Arbor earlier this month, his first time exploring the campus and the facilities. His connection with recently hired offensive line coach Grant Newsome is growing exponentially this offseason, and so is his bond with Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. Producing NFL-bound offensive linemen annually and winning the Joe Moore Award twice in the past season has ascended Gray’s interest level in the Wolverines.

Top 100 OL Tyler Merrill, Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley

On3 Ranking: No. 50 Overall, No. 6 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Pennsylvania
RPM: Penn State (38.9%), Notre Dame (14.9%), Syracuse (8.6%), Michigan (7.2%)
U-M Visit: April 7
He Said It: “Michigan stands high for me, have showed me what they mean to me, and what they have to offer if I come to play and be a Wolverine.”

Tyler Merrill first visited Michigan this past June, where his participation and performance at a team-host camp led to Moore entering the mix. Merrill’s return allowed him to monitor the teachings of Newsome in practice. Although Newsome is a few months into the role on U-M’s staff, Merrill had an affinity for how the assistant carried himself around the players and how the players trusted his leadership. A return visit from Merrill could come as early as this summer for the annual late July BBQ at The Big House or for a game next season.

Top 100 QB Troy Huhn, San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills

On3 Ranking: No. 52 Overall, No. 5 Quarterback, No. 6 in California
RPM: Texas (34.4%), UCLA (10.7%), Arizona State (9.2%), Michigan (7.6%)
U-M Visit: March 25
He Said It: “Michigan is going to be high on my list as I continue to build a better idea of what I like in schools.”

Troy Huhn is one of the more recent 2026 quarterbacks to notch a Michigan offer, as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell remains focused on landing a top signal-caller next cycle. Huhn stayed on campus for a multi-day visit and spent considerable time meeting with Campbell. Attending the same school that produced Jack Tuttle, Huhn also connected with the rostered gunslingers.

Top 100 RB Shahn Alston, Painesville (Ohio) Harvey

On3 Ranking: No. 75 Overall, No. 6 Running Back, No. 2 in Ohio
RPM: Akron (36.1%), Virginia Tech (16.5%), Purdue (14.2%), Wisconsin (11.8%)
U-M Visit: March 30
He Said It: “An offer would mean a lot. Due to my relationship with Coach Alford and Michigan’s offensive play style, they would be high on my list.”

Shahn Alston had known Alford because of his trips to Columbus in the past, so when he returned to Michigan last month, they had in-depth conversations about life and football. Alston believes Alford is a great mentor and has learned a lot from the advice Alford has given to help him progress in recruiting. Alston doesn’t have a U-M offer but is working towards earning one, with his interest rising because of Alford and the program’s history of developing running backs.