The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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38 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2025 BY EJ HOLLAND M ichigan wasn't very active in the state of Virginia early in the decade. That changed soon after the Wolverines landed a commitment from highly touted safety Brandyn Hillman in the spring of 2023. Hillman was a late-cycle add out of the Tidewater area and is expected to make a major impact this coming season. The addition of Hillman gave Michi- gan a starting point in a state without a true dominant in-state program. Penn State has been taking advantage of that for years under James Franklin. Now, it's Michigan's turn. The Wolverines have invested a ton of resources in Virginia over the last couple of years and should be a power player in the state this cycle. In fact, U-M head coach Sherrone Moore spent an entire week recruiting throughout Virginia dur- ing the contact period in January. Overall, U-M has offered more 2026 recruits in Virginia than in Michigan and Chicagoland combined. Let that sink in. "Virginia has national guys in the 2026 class," said Virginia recruiting figure- head Deon Glover. "Some people think we don't have talent anymore, but we're loaded. You talk about guys like [On3's No. 1 running back] Savion Hiter and [four-star offensive lineman] Thomas Wilder. They can compete with anyone in the country." As the founder and owner of GameDay Recruits, Glover puts together his own camp series around the state every off- season and serves as a mentor and advisor to top prospects. If Michigan wants to in- crease its chances for success in Virginia, then Glover needs to be a to-go contact for U-M's expanded recruiting depart- ment. Glover has been to Michigan in the past and already has a good working rela- tionship with the staff. "Michigan recruiting Virginia as hard as they are is a game changer," Glover said. "Michigan is hitting the state hard. We're used to Penn State coming in, but Michigan is really hitting it hard. They've upgraded their recruiting philosophy. It's impressive. They have a great coaching staff and have expanded their recruiting department. I love it. They are doing a phenomenal job." From Michael Vick to Percy Harvin, Virginia has historically been a fertile re- cruiting ground. While the talent hasn't been quite as deep in recent years, the 2026 class is special. There are nine Vir- ginia recruits in the On3 Industry Ranking Top 300, and several others hold Power Four offers. "Back in the early 2000s, the state was piling up with recruits," said Norfolk (Va.) Maury head coach Dyrri McCain, who led his team to a state title in Virginia's second-highest classification this season. "As the years went on, it was more a top guy here and there. But it's getting back to where it was. The 2026 class shows Vir- ginia still has it. I love my state, whether it's here or Richmond or anywhere. I'm glad there is a lot of talent here." No Virginia recruit has generated more buzz this cycle than Mineral (Va.) Louisa County prospect Hiter, the No. 1-ranked running back in the country and a top overall target for Michigan in 2026. Hiter is tucked away in a tiny town close to the Blue Ridge Mountains — about 30 miles away from where former Michigan great and ex-NFL running back Chris Perry played his high school ball. A strong, explosive runner, Hiter could follow in Perry's footsteps and be the next Doak Walker winner out of Virginia. Hiter recently named Michigan as the leader in his recruitment, and the Wolverines are continuing to trend in the right direction. Moore, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, running backs coach Tony Al- ford and general manager Sean Magee all stopped by Louisa County to see Hiter in January. During his time at Ohio State, Alford landed fellow Virginia native TreVeyon Henderson, the top-ranked 2021 running back. The Michigan staff made a big impres- sion on Louisa County head coach Will Patrick. "Michigan bringing everybody in shows how committed they are to signing Savion," Patrick said. "It's a lot of miles, and we're out here in the middle of Vir- ginia. I loved it. I think it's great for our school, our town and our community. I also think it's great for the young men. "It's nice to see Michigan come out to Virginia. There is talent here in the state. Penn State has had a stronghold here along with our in-state schools. We hope Michigan keeps coming and offering our kids." After a maze of back roads, you'll eventually hit the Blue Ridge Parkway. Go down about 100 miles, and you'll find Jaziel Hart at Roanoke North Cross. Michigan identified Hart, now On3's No. 294 player and No. 30 cornerback in the land, when he had no ranking and has hosted him on two visits. The Wolverines are at the very top of his list along with Penn State. The same group of U-M staff- ers who saw Hiter also visited Hart. Moore and company also spent time with North Cross head coach Dwayne Priest, who knows a thing or two about leaving Roanoke for the Midwest. Priest grew up in Virginia before accepting a scholarship to Eastern Michigan, where he starred at running back. Some diehard fans may even remember Priest rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown in The Big House back in 2009. "It was great for them to have the whole coaching staff here," Priest said. "That shows Jaziel how much they want him. It's a blessing. He had the biggest smile on his face. "Coming down from that far shows how ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING U-M Gains Recruiting Momentum In Virginia The Michigan football staff has made Louisa County (Va.) Mineral High running back Savion Hiter a priority in the 2026 class. Hiter is the No. 1-ranked running back in the country. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND