Five-star RB Savion Hiter commits to Michigan over Tennessee

Recruiting Q&A - 2025-02-09T165531.848 — EJ Holland/On3

Michigan scored its biggest win of the recruiting cycle on Tuesday morning.

Five-star Mineral (Va.) Louisa County running back Savion Hiter committed to Michigan over fellow finalists Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee.

This recruitment was widely considered a Michigan vs. Tennessee battle down the stretch. While the Volunteers made a big run, Michigan was a constant throughout the process and was able to seal the deal when it mattered most.

“They are a big program for running the ball,” Hiter told The Wolverine earlier this offseason. “You saw it this year. They have a history of great running backs coming out of there like Blake Corum, who is from Virginia. I could see myself running in a Michigan jersey.”

Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford recruited Hiter dating back to his time at Ohio State. Alford played a crucial role in winning Hiter over.

“Coach Alford is a funny dude,” Hiter said. “But he’s also straight up with me. He tells me what I have to hear and not what I want to hear. He doesn’t BS with me.”

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At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Hiter is ranked as the No. 1 running back and No. 11 overall recruit in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Virginia for next cycle.

Michigan now has 23 commits in its 2026 recruiting class — Hiter, five-star Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga EDGE Carter Meadows, Top 100 Honolulu (Hawaii) Kamehameha offensive tackle Malakai Lee, Top 100 St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet defensive lineman Titan Davis, Top 100 Billings (Mont.) West tight end Matt Ludwig, Top 100 Newberry Park (Calif.) High quarterback Brady Smigiel, On300 Needham (Mass.) St. Sebastian’s offensive lineman Marky Walbridge, On300 Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith wide receiver Travis Johnson, On300 Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork EDGE Julian Walker, On300 Chicago (Ill.) Simeon EDGE McHale Blade, four-star Carrollton (Ga.) High defensive back Dorian Barney, four-star Richmond (Va.) Hermitage defensive back Andre Clarke, four-star Mansfield (Texas) High wide receiver Zion Robinson, three-star Cartersville (Ga.) Cass offensive lineman Bear McWhorter, three-star Washington (D.C.) St. John’s EDGE Tariq Boney, three-star Denver (Colo.) Mullen tight end Mason Bonner, three-star Liberty Hill (Texas) High defensive lineman Alister Vallejo, three-star Dallas (Texas) Parish Episcopal wide receiver Jaylen Pile, three-star Richmond (Va.) Huguenot linebacker Markel Dabney, three-star Hinsdale (Ill.) Central kicker Micah Drescher, Columbus (Ohio) St. Francis DeSales running back Jonathan Brown and Phoenix (Ariz.) O’Connor long snapper Colton Dermer.

Michigan entered the day with the No. 11 ranked 2026 recruiting class nationally, per the On3 Industry team recruiting rankings. Michigan is also ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten. USC currently has the top class in the conference.