The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543210
MARCH 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 27 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE room, and he's ready to learn from junior Jordan Marshall and senior Bryson Kuz- dzal. McCann said they hoped Justice Haynes would stick around as well, but the Georgia Tech transfer is still in touch with Hiter as a mentor. Hiter arrived on campus at 200 pounds, and he's already up to 208. "The journey has gone really well for him," McCann said. "He's fitting in well. He's spending a lot of time with Jordan Marshall. He's learning from a lot of pro- fessional running backs out there." Michigan's football program changed a lot over the past couple of months. Al- ford remained in Ann Arbor through all the chaos. Hiter picked Michigan because of the university's academics, the pro- gram's history with development and his position coach's history with coaching up elite running backs. McCann feels good about the pro- gram's future under Kyle Whittingham. Hiter's first month on campus went well. He's a friendship- and family-oriented guy, and the pressure of the recruiting spotlight is off his shoulders. McCann can tell that's making a difference. "Our calls are so much more smiles and laughs with him now," McCann said. "It's him getting back to himself because all that weight is off his shoulders. He didn't want to disappoint so many adults, which I think a lot of people didn't understand." Hiter racked up 6,566 all-purpose yards throughout his high school football career while keeping his head down with a focus on his cra. He scored 94 total touchdowns and played defense for Lou- isa County as well. The running back won Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Vir- ginia as a senior just a couple of months ago, and he's already working to establish a role with the Wolverines as a true fresh- man. ❑ SAVION HITER RUNNING BACK 6-0 • 210 LOUISA COUNTY HIGH LOUISA, VA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪✪✪✪✪ + 12 1 1 ✪✪✪✪✪ 13 1 1 ✪✪✪✪✪ 21 2 2 ✪✪✪✪✪ 25 2 1 STATISTICS Year Rush Yds. TD KOR TD 2025 100+ 1,445 25 — 2024 156 1,698 26 3 2023 150 1,187 11 2 HONORS • Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia as a senior in 2025. • 2025 MaxPreps Player of the Year in Virginia. • Rated a PrepStar Top 300 All-American in 2025. • Played in the Under Armour All-American Game in 2025. • Two-time MaxPreps All-American (first-team ju- nior, 2024; second-team sophomore, 2023). • Honored as the All-Central Virginia Player of the Year in both junior and senior seasons. • VHSL Class 5 All-State honoree (2024) and Class 4 All-State selection as a senior. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan Aug. 19, 2025. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia. • Recruited by U-M running backs coach Tony Al- ford. DID YOU KNOW? • Concluded his prep football career with 5,529 rushing yards and 84 touchdowns, per his Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year citation. • Totaled 56 tackles on defense as a junior, includ- ing 7 sacks, with 1 interception. • Spent his freshman year at Louisa County before transferring for one year to Woodberry Forrest (2023) then returning to Louisa County for junior and senior seasons. • Louisa County posted an 11-1 mark in 2025 and reached the Class 4B Regional semifinal. Also helped lead the Lions to a 9-3 record in 2024 and the Class 5A Regional semifinal. • Lettered in track and field, specializing in sprints and jumps; state qualifier in the 55-meter dash, long jump and triple jump. Personal best times/distances (all recorded as a sophomore in 2023) include 6.67 in the 55 meters, 11.1 in the 100, 23.07 in the 200, 22-6 ¼ in the long jump and 44-3 ½ in the triple jump. • Member of his local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; has volunteered locally with Stuff the Bus, providing school supplies for students in need; also donated his time on behalf of the Louisa Resource Council. • Son of Rod Hiter and Aishia Scott-Hiter. • Born May 1, 2008. THEY SAID IT: Rivals Director Of Scouting And Rankings Charles Power: "Gifted runner with an advanced 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 meters as a fresh- man. Also jumped close to 45 feet in the triple jump — an outstanding mark. Turned multiple dominant seasons as a high school underclassman, including a 1,698-yard, 26-touchdown junior campaign that saw him run for 10.8 yards per carry. Looks to be a natural runner. An extremely fluid and smooth mover who changes directions effortlessly. Shows excellent ac- celeration. Cuts on a dime and makes defenders miss in space. Runs with pace and instincts." 2026 PROJECTION Hiter will be a difference-maker with Michigan and could make an instant impact this fall. Jordan Marshall will be tough to beat out for the starting job, but the five-star phenom should have a role right away. He's a complete back who could also help in the receiving game and as a pass blocker. It will be impossible to keep Hiter off the field. Hiter's career numbers in high school include 5,529 rushing yards and 84 touchdowns. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND