Michigan Wolverines Land Top Recruit

Just when you thought Michigan might be hitting some recruiting turbulence after that whole sign-stealing mess, Head Coach Sherrone Moore and his staff went out and landed themselves a genuine superstar. Five-star running back Savion Hiter committed to the Wolverines on Tuesday.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing in at 200 pounds of pure athleticism, Hiter chose the Wolverines over some pretty impressive competition. Georgia, Ohio State, and Tennessee were all in the running. Will the star recruit live up to the hype?

Why Hiter’s Commitment Matters More Than You Think

Let’s get real about what Michigan just pulled off. Hiter isn’t just any five-star recruit. He is the No. 2 running back in the entire 2026 class and was sitting pretty as the top uncommitted prospect in the ESPN 300 before Tuesday’s announcement. If you are keeping track at home, this makes him the highest-ranked running back signee in team history during the ESPN recruiting rankings era, which goes back to 2006.

Michigan has had some pretty decent running backs over the years, but none of them came in with this kind of pedigree. This is the recruiting equivalent of finding a $20 bill in your old winter coat. The timing could not be better for the team, either. After losing Kalel Mullings to the NFL Draft, the Wolverines needed someone who could step into that bell cow role and make opposing defenses respect the ground game.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Here is where things get interesting. During his junior season at Louisa County High School in Virginia, Hiter destroyed the competition. He had 1,698 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on just 156 carries. This isn’t some one-dimensional player who just runs the ball. Hiter played defense too, racking up seven sacks and picking off a pass. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.

The 247Sports evaluation compared him to Omarion Hampton, who just got selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. When recruiting analysts are throwing around those kinds of comparisons, you know you’re dealing with something special.

Michigan’s Identity Gets a Major Boost

The team loves to run the football. It has been their bread and butter, and under Moore, that philosophy is not going anywhere. The Wolverines have finished no worse than seventh in the Big Ten in rushing since 2020, and they have had four running backs drafted since 2021. That’s not an accident.

The star back fits this system like a glove. According to his scouting report, he is effective both inside and outside the tackles, has the vision to turn negative plays into positive ones, and possesses the core strength to break through arm tackles. The kind of player who can carry the load but also contribute in the passing game and pass protection.

What makes this even sweeter for Wolverines fans is that Hiter chose the Wolverines over some programs that have been pretty darn successful recently. Tennessee, in particular, made a strong late push, hosting Hiter multiple times over the past year.

The Bigger Picture For Michigan’s 2026 Class

Hiter’s commitment doesn’t exist in a vacuum. He is now the crown jewel of what’s shaping up to be a pretty impressive 2026 recruiting class for the squad. The Wolverines already have four-star Quarterback Brady Smigiel (formerly committed to Florida State) anchoring things, along with a couple of top 120 wide receivers in Travis Johnson and Zion Robinson.

Add in Tight Ends Matt Ludwig and Mason Bonner, plus fellow Running Back Jonathan Brown, and you have the makings of an offensive class that could do some serious damage in a few years. The fact that Michigan is pulling in this kind of talent while dealing with the aftermath of the sign-stealing scandal speaks volumes about what Moore and his staff are building.

What This Means Moving Forward

Look, recruiting is never a guarantee of success. We have all seen five-star busts and three-star heroes, but when you’re talking about a player with Hiter’s combination of production, athleticism, and character, you are dealing with pretty good odds.

By the time Hiter arrives on campus in 2026, Michigan should have a pretty good idea of what they have in guys like Justice Haynes (the Alabama transfer) and Jordan Marshall (their 2024 signee). The Wolverines have proven they can develop running backs at the highest level. Now they have their hands on what might be the best raw talent they have ever recruited at the position. If that doesn’t get fans excited about the future, nothing will.