Highly Touted Star Playmaker Sends Strong Message on Tennessee

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Holcomb | Last updated Feb 17, 2025 12:34 PM ET

The Tennessee Volunteers featured the SEC's best rushing attack during the 2024 campaign. Tennessee would love nothing more than to continue this dominance on the ground.

In 2025, the Volunteers have DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis set to return in the backfield. Tennessee could also add top running back prospect Savion Hiter in the 2026 recruiting class.

On3's Hayes Fawcett reported Hiter has trimmed his top list of schools to four. Tennessee was included on the list along with the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Fawcett also wrote Tennessee will have the advantage of being his final visit of those four schools this summer. Hiter has a visit scheduled for Knoxville on the weekend of June 20.

The running back also visited Tennessee in Nov. when the Volunteers hosted rival Kentucky.

Savion Hiter has some FIRE game tape from his junior season @5starsavi

Speed, power, and massive production shows you exactly why he’s a top back in the 2026 class and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Virginia

(Game film via @Hudl) pic.twitter.com/FpMyslyJRl
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) January 28, 2025

“It was electric,” Hiter told On3's Matt Ray on Saturday regarding the Vols crowd. “I mean, people are just together as a family, cheering for everybody and everybody rooting for Tennessee.

"… I expected big out of Tennessee, and I got what I expected.”

BREAKING: Elite 2026 RB Savion Hiter is down to 4️⃣ Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The No. 1 RB in ‘26 has locked in OVs to each of his finalists:

• Ohio State- May 30-June 1
• Georgia- June 6-8
• Michigan- June 13-15
• Tennessee- June 19-22https://t.co/VKtLd1LZEN pic.twitter.com/KdXp8DjkTd
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 16, 2025

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Hiter is the No. 1 running back prospect in the 2026 class. The playmaker is also rated as the No. 26 overall prospect.

Tennessee has already landed a commitment from No. 1 2026 quarterback Faizon Brandon, who 247Sports also has rated as the top overall prospect in the class.

Hiter is scheduled to visit Ohio State, Georgia and Michigan on the three consecutive weekends prior to his visit to Knoxville, Tenn., in June. The running back will play his final high school season for Louisa County in Mineral, Va.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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