After signing the nation’s sixth-ranked recruiting class for 2025, the Michigan Wolverines are on track to replicate that success in 2026. On Wednesday, On3’s recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong revealed that Michigan is in a strong position to secure the top running back prospect in the 2026 class, Savion Hiter. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound recruit from Virginia is currently ranked as the No. 1 running back and the No. 17 overall prospect in the country.
During the summer, Hiter visited the Wolverines and is reported to have established a strong bond with running backs coach Tony Alford and head coach Sherrone Moore.
Hiter’s mother remarked, “From both his perspective and ours, they’ve really raised the standard.” She added that the entire staff was involved right from the start and has maintained consistent communication. “We’ve built strong relationships not only with Coach Tony Alford but also with Head Coach Sherrone Moore. Their whole team stays in touch and makes it clear that Savion is their top priority in this class. They’ve been outstanding in providing us with resources and information.”
Savion Hiter is an explosive running back with star potential for a College Football Playoff contender, thanks to his unique blend of speed, power, agility, balance, and vision. At the combine, he excelled with impressive numbers—a 1.52-second 10-yard split, a 4.12-second shuttle, and a 36-inch vertical jump—while already weighing in at 200 pounds, which gives him the muscle to back up his play. He’s effective as both an inside and outside runner, quickly finding lanes and powering forward. His quick feet allow him to sidestep defenders, turning setbacks into positive gains, while his strong core and low pad level help him shrug off arm tackles. Additionally, his explosive cuts make it exceptionally difficult for defenders to bring him down once he breaches the first wave of tackles. Although he hasn’t been heavily used as a receiver in high school, his performances at offseason camps have shown he can be a reliable option, suggesting he has the potential to be a three-down back, particularly with his strengths in pass protection. Overall, Hiter should be seen as a naturally gifted ball carrier with the potential to make a significant, multi-year impact from his very first season. If he stays focused and avoids setbacks, his size, testing results, and innate feel for the position indicate he could become an NFL Draft pick in the future.
If head coach Sherrone Moore and his staff manage to secure the commitment of the nation’s top running back prospect for the 2026 class, it will lay a robust foundation for the Wolverines to attract consecutive Top 10 recruiting classes.