Tennessee Locked in Heated Battle With Michigan, Ohio State for Five-Star Playmaker

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Holcomb | Last updated Jun 21, 2025 10:13 PM ET

The Tennessee Volunteers remain very much involved in the recruitment of the top running back in the 2026 recruiting class. But so do the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes.

On3's Chad Simmons reported on Friday that this weekend the Volunteers will get another crack at the top running back prospect -- five-star Savion Hiter.

"Tennessee is deep in this race. Savion Hiter has connected with the staff, he loves the Tennessee offense and the Vols get the five-star running back’s final visit of the summer," wrote Simmons. "Ohio State is working to stay in this, but Tennessee’s top competition looks to be Michigan.

"Tony Alford and the staff in Ann Arbor have done a great job. Tennessee’s staff has too, and there is a little optimism in Knoxville when talking to sources."

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine has yet to show that optimism. The prediction machine projected Tennessee has a 17.4% chance of landing Hiter.

But no program's chances were higher 27% for Hiter, and the percentages may be a little out of date anyway. Based on Simmons' latest assessment, Tennessee and Michigan appear to be the two favorites for the five-star running back, yet those two schools are third and fourth in the machine's percentage odds to land Hiter.

No. 1 RB Savion Hiter on his official visit to Tennessee

(via @AustinPriceless)https://t.co/FYLLucqixN pic.twitter.com/6nEJfWnUG0
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 20, 2025

In addition to being the top running back, Hiter is the No. 1 Virginia prospect in the 2026 recruiting class based on the 247Sports Composite rankings. The running back is also ranked as the No. 17 overall recruit for 2026.

Hiter's visit to Tennessee this weekend is the last one on his schedule.

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

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