The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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50 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2025 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND S avion Hiter's lengthy recruiting pro- cess has come to an end. Hiter, a five-star running back, picked Michigan over fellow finalists Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee in front of family and friends at Mineral (Va.) Lou- isa County High's auditorium on Aug. 19. He is the 23rd member of Michigan's 2026 recruiting class, and his commit- ment moved U-M up to No. 10 in the Ri- vals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Hiter is ranked as the No. 1 running back and No. 11 overall recruit in the country, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Virginia in the 2026 cycle. "It feels great to be done with the re- cruiting process," Hiter said. "But I was grateful to have it. Not a lot of people get it. I have to be thankful for that." Hiter was visibly emotional after the announcement. A small-town kid, Hiter was very private and quiet about his re- cruitment over the last year. Going into the decision, Hiter did everything he could to avoid any leaks. But the truth is that Hiter actually made up his mind two weeks ago — shortly after a vacation to the Bahamas, which relieved some of the endless pres- sure he's faced in recent months. "It was kind of hard to keep it quiet," Hiter said. "But I knew I could. I talked about it with my family, and I knew we could keep it a secret. We don't really like disclosing a lot of stuff that goes on." So, why Michigan? "It's such a great place," Hiter said. "Everybody keeps their discipline. It's like a brotherhood over there. The cul- ture is crazy. … The development was a big part of it. The development is great." Relationships also played a key role. Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford built a strong bond with Hiter throughout the process. Alford first of- fered Hiter when he was at Ohio State and made him his top priority after he made the switch to Michigan. Hiter is coming off a junior season that saw him rush 156 times for 1,698 yards (10.9 per carry) and 26 touchdowns to go along with 199 yards receiving and 56 tackles, 7 sacks and an interception on the defensive side of the ball. He also returned 3 kickoffs for touchdowns. A strong runner between the tackles with the ability to make plays as a pass catcher, Hiter should be a perfect fit for Michigan's new-look offense under co- ordinator Chip Lindsey. "I feel like the offense is going to be great," Hiter said. "Chip is such a great offensive coordinator. I already know what that's going to be like. I'm excited to see them this season. We have such a great running back room. I'm excited to watch them this season." Hiter is set to graduate in December and will enroll early at Michigan. "I feel like it's going to benefit me a lot," he said. "I get to get in early, get bigger and learn all the plays before the summer and next season." Hiter is expected to make an early impact at Michigan. However, when asked what his goals were for his fresh- man season, Hiter gave a humble re- sponse. "I'm going to be a leader on the team," he said. "I'm going to be behind Jordan Marshall, learn from him and do great things." ❑ Five-Star RB Savion Hiter Picks Michigan Hiter, the nation's No. 1 running back per the Rivals Industry Ranking, chose Michigan over Tennessee on Aug. 19. His commitment gives the Wolverines their second five-star recruit in the 2026 class, in addition to edge rusher Carter Meadows. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: "Gifted runner with an ad- vanced blend of athleticism, fluidity, and instincts as a high school underclassman. Physically developed, measuring in at over 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an 11.11 second mark in the 100-me- ters as a freshman. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump – an outstanding mark. "An extremely fluid, natural and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent acceleration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts. A strong tackle-breaker who runs through contact due to a strong leg drive. "A phenomenal high school football player who also makes big plays on defense. Has the potential and upside to be one of the best running back prospects in several cycles." — Rivals director of scouting and rankings Charles Power "I've seen Hiter on numerous occasions and have followed his recruitment closely over the last couple of years. Hiter is the complete package. He has verified times, runs with tre- mendous power between the tackles and is a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield. Hiter is also advanced in pass protection, which can often be an issue for high school backs. There is no doubt he can make an immediate impact as a true freshman and be the next star ball carrier in a winged helmet." — EJ Holland PLAYER COMPARISONS: "Like [former Texas and current Atlanta Falcons back] Bijan Robinson, Hiter is listed at a tad over 5-foot-11 and will play his senior season at north of 200 pounds. Hiter runs with the same power and explosiveness that Robinson did and also has that same pass-catching ability. "Like Robinson, Hiter really impressed me in a 7v7 setting last offseason, where he earned top performer honors. Hiter was also fantastic as a pass catcher in the fall when I saw him live. "Another player comparison I've thrown out is NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson. That's very, very lofty but not out of the ques- tion if Hiter does in fact hit his ceiling. "By the way, Hiter, Robinson and Tomlinson all wore No. 5 at the high school level. Just saying." — EJ Holland "Savion Hiter's outstanding change of direc- tion, burst, vision, and body type remind us of Bijan Robinson at the same stage. Both were dominant runners against lower com- petition. Hiter showed more verified speed at the same stage, while Robinson put up truly gaudy production." — Rivals director of scouting and rankings Charles Power