The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 45 ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING He gave up the picturesque campus and brand-new facilities for a chance to once again represent his community. "I'm just so happy he's back wearing the green and gold," said Louisa County head coach Will Patrick. "Everyone around here loves him. He's family. Sav- ion is dynamic on the football field, but he also brings a lot of love and joy to the community as well. I don't think you get that everywhere. Football is very im- portant here, and it's a tight-knit com- munity. We're very proud to have him." Savion put on a clinic in his return. He rushed for 1,698 yards (11 yards per carry) and 26 touchdowns. He also started at linebacker, racking up 56 tackles, 7 sacks and an interception. Your friendly neighborhood super back also earned an invitation to the Under Armour All-America Game despite be- ing just a junior. It was a special season for a special prospect. "His speed and power stand out," Patrick said. "His contact balance is un- canny. His ability to see where he needs to go and make decisions quickly is great. He's so fast and powerful. You're not going to arm tackle him. You have to square him up, and even then, peo- ple have a tough time because he's so strong. He's such an athlete. "I don't even have a player compari- son for him. It's whoever is in the Pro Bowl every year. His ability to run the ball, his vision, speed, power and bal- ance are all very good. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield. I think he's going to be one of one." Simply put, Savion is the complete package. "He's able to go from speed to power efficiently," McCann said. "His route running ability is great. You saw that at Under Armour Game in Orlando. He's gotten a lot better at pass pro. Some of the coaches recruiting him have helped him with that. I think he's going to be a nightmare at the next level." Savion has another season at Louisa County before he moves on to the bright lights of The Big House. Michigan is getting an elite talent and even better ambassador for the program. Big opportunities await Savion — far away from gas stations, compounds straight out of a horror movie and the isolated yet enchanting woods of rural Virginia. Hiter's college goals are admirable. "I just want to get better as a person," Hiter said. "I want my academics to be great. I want to be a great person. I'm not really worried about football … but I am worried about football." ❑ A lot of pundits shared their thoughts on deciding factors for five-star Mineral (Va.) Louisa County running back Savion Hiter. While the NIL era has completely transformed college football recruiting, relationships still mat- ter. Hiter made that perfectly clear following his commitment to Michigan. No coach did a better job of building a genuine bond with the talented ball carrier than Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford. "Coach Alford's résumé is amazing — [NFL backs] Ezekiel Elliott and J.K. Dobbins," Hiter said. "But he's also such a genuine coach. He keeps it real with you. He doesn't BS with you or beat around the bush. That's what I like about him." Alford is a pro's pro. Yes, he's a veteran and has coached multiple NFL running backs, but what stands out about him the most is his ability to cultivate real relationships with everyone he comes into contact with. "He's built a great relationship with not only Savion but our family since he started recruiting him at Ohio State," said Hiter's mother, Aishia. "Once he came to Michigan, our relationship became stronger. It's only gotten stronger as time has grown. He's not just involved with Savion's immedi- ate family. He's involved with extended family as well. Coach Alford means so much for us. He has our utmost respect." Alford is also an elite recruiter. He offered Hiter as soon as he arrived in Ann Arbor in March 2024 and made him The Priority this cycle. "His persistence stood out the most," said Hiter's father, Rod. "He was always calling and texting us. He's an all-around good guy. He just won us over." Alford didn't just win over the Hiter family. He also impressed one of the most important figures in Hiter's recruitment — advisor Adam McCann. "He has 20 years of development," McCann said. "He can develop you on and off the field like no other. He didn't get enough credit during his transition to Michigan. He had some of the best and some of my favorite backs. He developed them at Ohio State. He's going to do the same with the guys over there at Michigan. Twenty years of development is one in a million." Overall, Alford did everything right in Hiter's recruitment. From the family to McCann to Louisa County head coach Will Patrick, everyone involved had high praise for the U-M assistant. "I think Tony Alford is one of the most top-notch individuals that has come through this school," Patrick said. "The things he brings and the resumé he has speak for themselves. He's a genuine per- son. He wants to help kids whether they choose Michigan or not. He does it for the right reasons." — EJ Holland Alford, now in his second season as U-M's run game coordinator and running backs coach, has a proven track record of recruiting ball carriers who have gone on to success in the NFL, including Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins and TreVeyon Henderson. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN The X-Factor: U-M Running Backs Coach Tony Alford