Matt Johnson
The Michigan Wolverines are headed into a new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham, with excitement surrounding the football program in the first spring practice under a great coach. It also helps to have a young standout making an impression on the field, too.
According to Pete Nakos of On3.com, the newcomer who has drawn the most buzz and praise from those who are getting a first-hand look at the team is freshman running back Savion Hiter.
- Savion Hitter stats (High School): 836 rushing yads, 13.9 yards per carry, 13 rushing touchdowns on 60 carries in eight games
Hiter was rated by On3.com and Rivals as the top running back prospect in the 2026 recruiting class and the 12th-best player overall. While the Tennessee Volunteers made a late push for him, he signed with Michigan.
He’s drawn praise both from coaches publicly and from those with even higher praise behind the scenes. Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford raved about the freshman being “exceptionally explosive” and also highlighted both his power when he moves and his ability to change direction.
Some who have witnessed Hiter at practice described him to On3 as already “looking NFL-ready” and confidently saying he is the best freshman running back in the country.
The real excitement for Michigan is how this rushing attack could look next season. Jordan Marshall returns coming off a breakthrough season, when he averaged 6.2 yards per carry with 932 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on just 150 attempts.
