The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 53 Michigan hosted one of its most important 2026 re- cruiting targets for the annual BBQ at The Big House in late July in top-100 running back Savion Hiter. The Woodberry Forest (Va.) School product also visited in the spring and enjoyed getting another look at everything around Ann Arbor. "It was fun," Hiter said. "I got to connect with Coach Tony [Alford] and the rest of the staff. I got to meet with Coach [Sherrone] Moore. It was good to see them again. I got to hang out with other recruits like Brady Hart and Jasper Parker. Jasper showed me around. It was a great visit." Alford, Michigan's running backs coach, offered Hiter soon after arriving in Ann Arbor this off- season and has made him a top priority. Alford recruited Hiter during his time at Ohio State, and the two have built a special bond. Alford and Hiter had yet another positive meet- ing during the visit. "It was good," Hiter said. "I had a connection with him from Ohio State. We're just building up on that. He just told me to stay focused, keep grinding and don't get around the wrong people. He's a straightforward guy. He doesn't BS. He tells me what it is. He doesn't sugarcoat it." The meeting with Alford was briefly interrupted by star Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, who met Hiter on his first visit and is serving as a nice recruiting tool for the Wolverines. "He came in the meeting room and dapped me up," Hiter said. "He's going to be the top rushing leader in college football. He's funny and a pretty goofy person. I like him a lot. I'm excited to watch him this year." Hiter — the No. 1 prospect in Virginia, and the No. 2 running back and No. 29 overall prospect na- tionally per the On3 Industry Ranking — also had an opportunity to sit down with Moore. "He's also very straightforward," Hiter said. "He told me the same things that Coach Alford said. He told me how he's going to develop me. I think he's going to do great as the head coach. They are prob- ably going to be back-to-back national champions." The staff received a boost from Michigan com- mit Brady Hart, the No. 9 quarterback nationally in the 2026 class per the On3 Industry Ranking. The two competed with each other at Under Armour's Future 50 event this summer and are already form- ing a friendship. "He talks like a college guy," Hiter said. "He's re- ally different. He's not like the other recruits. He knows how to talk to people. He told me to stay focused and if you want to come to Michigan, you definitely can. It would be pretty nice to play with him. We already have a great bond." Overall, Michigan is high on Hiter's mind along with programs like Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee. "They are at the top of my list," Hiter said. "They are a different program. They tell me how they are going to work with me and how they are going to use me as a player. "I feel like I can fit in great and hopefully be like Blake Corum or Donovan Edwards." — EJ Holland One of the highest-ranked recruits on campus for the BBQ at The Big House at Michigan in late July was Tyler Merrill. The 2026 top-100 offensive tackle out of Me- chanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley High has al- ready visited U-M on multiple occasions and en- joyed returning to Ann Arbor for another in-depth look at the program. "It was great to be back," Merrill said. "I had great visits beforehand. I knew I had to go back. I got a deep dive with Coach [Grant] Newsome and Coach [Sherrone] Moore. I got more of a feel for what the people are like, what the opportunities are like for the players, what they do during practice, what travel is like and just more details. It was awesome to get to see those guys again and meet some new recruits and immerse myself in what Michigan is all about. I had fun. My family really enjoyed it." Merrill, the No. 5 interior offensive lineman and No. 67 overall recruit nationally per the On3 Indus- try Ranking, spent extended time with Newsome, Michigan's new offensive line coach, and also went through a workout with him. "It was awesome talking to him," Merrill said. "He's a really genuine guy. He's very particular with what he wants. It's important to have some- one like that as a leader, especially at a school like Michigan. He loves me. He emphasizes how much I mean to Michigan and how much he loves having me there. They can't get enough of me, and I can't get enough of them." Moore previously served as Merrill's lead re- cruiter and was also heavily involved on the visit. "I knew Coach Moore when he was the offensive line coach," Merrill said. "He hasn't changed a single bit. That says a lot about the program. They aren't going to change who they are. They'll high- light the bad and the good. I love his philosophy and the way he communicates with people. I feel like anyone would want to be close to this guy. I can only say positive things about him. He checks a lot of the boxes that I look for." The Michigan staff got a bit of a boost from 2026 top-100 quarterback commit Brady Hart, who spent plenty of time peer recruiting through- out the weekend. "We chatted a little bit, and he seems like a genuine kid as well," Merrill said. "My dad talked to his dad and asked him what was different about getting recruited as a quarterback. He seems like a genuine dude. Brady definitely is the leader type." Overall, Michigan is on Merrill's short list of contenders along with programs like Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State. "I really want to take my recruiting step-by-step," Merrill said. "I want to see every place before I start narrowing things down. I can tell you that Michigan fits a lot of what I'm looking for." — EJ Holland Elite 2026 Virginia Running Back Puts U-M At 'Top Of My List' Top 2026 Pennsylvania Lineman Enjoys Big House Visit ❱ PREP PROFILES ✪✪✪ ✪ ✪ Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, Va. Class: 2026 Position: Running back Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 190 On3 Industry Rankings: No. 1 player in Virginia, and No. 2 running back and No. 29 overall prospect nationally ❱ Savion Hiter ✪✪✪ ✪ ✪ Cumberland Valley High School Mechanicsburg, Pa. Class: 2026 Position: Interior offensive line Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 330 On3 Industry Rankings: No. 2 player in Pennsylvania, and No. 5 interior offensive lineman and No. 67 overall prospect nationally ❱ Tyler Merrill ❱ Hiter on head coach Sherrone Moore "He told me how he's going to develop me. I think he's going to do great as the head coach. They are probably going to be back-to-back national champions." ❱ Merrill on offensive line coach Grant Newsome "He's a really genuine guy... He emphasizes how much I mean to Michigan and how much he loves having me there. They can't get enough of me, and I can't get enough of them."