Michigan’s 2026 season countdown has a true freshman sitting at No. 13, and that alone tells you plenty about the buzz around Savion Hiter.
At 6-foot, 210 pounds, the running back from Louisa, Va., arrives with the kind of résumé that turns heads before he ever takes a college snap. As a senior at Louisa County High School, Hiter put together one of the most productive seasons in the country, rushing 109 times for 1,440 yards and 24 touchdowns despite missing three games with injury.
He helped lead Louisa County to an 11-1 record and the Class 4B state quarterfinals, then picked up Virginia player of the year honors from both MaxPreps and Gatorade. After a strong summer on the camp circuit, he climbed as high as No. 8 in the 247Sports Composite during the season before finishing at No. 12 overall and as the No. 1 running back.
The usual caution that comes with projecting a freshman doesn’t seem to apply here. Coaches and veteran players at a place like Michigan tend to stay measured when talking about first-year players, and for good reason.
The jump from high school to college is massive. But Hiter has already made a strong enough impression that the conversation has moved well beyond simple upside.
Kyle Whittingham didn’t exactly leave room for doubt when asked about Hiter’s potential in year one. “Way up there.
I can tell you that,” Whittingham said. “He's going to be a contributor for us this year, without a doubt. ...
The way Savion handled himself and just went about his business this spring was very impressive. He's a true professional.
He was not a typical freshman that might be a little emotional or volatile. He's mature beyond his years, and just physically, it's incredible.
"He's about six feet, 220 pounds, not an ounce of fat on the kid. A great contact balance, will pick up blitzes, has really good hands out of the backfield, explosive runner can make you miss.
I mean, his future is very, very bright. And like I said, his future starts now.
I mean, he'll be getting carries from game one."
Hiter won’t be working alone, though. Jordan Marshall is back after a breakout season of his own, one that produced 932 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as the No. 2 back.
That kind of competition may keep Hiter from starting right away, but Michigan’s history at the position suggests the backup role can still carry major weight. Over the past five seasons, the Wolverines’ second-string or “1B” running back has averaged 792.2 rushing yards and 5.4 rushing touchdowns per season.
That’s why Hiter lands where he does in the rankings. He’s the only true freshman in the top 25 and the only expected second-string player on the list.
Still, this isn’t a standard backup situation, and he isn’t a standard freshman. Even if Marshall performs like a first-team All-Big Ten back, Hiter could still put together a meaningful stat line and factor into several games.
Just having him in the room gives Michigan more flexibility in how it handles Marshall’s workload and distributes carries over the season.
The excitement around Hiter has been unusually strong, even by the standards of a blue-chip freshman. Between the scouting view from 247Sports and what sources close to the program have said, the belief in him is tied not just to his athletic traits but to the way he approaches the job. His willingness to block and learn the mental side of the position has stood out just as much as the five-star talent.
If Marshall weren’t ahead of him, a freshman season in the mold of JK Dobbins or Saquon Barkley would at least be on the table. With Marshall in front of him, Hiter still projects as a major piece of Michigan’s offense and a player who could help drive the rushing attack.
The fans were aligned with that view, slotting Hiter at No. 13 in the composite ballot. He drew just one top-four vote, but he was a frequent pick in the 7-11 range, with 35.9 percent of voters placing him there. He also received the most votes at No. 14 and appeared on 88.1 percent of all ballots.
“Hiter is a frosh but is being counted on to be RB2,” wrote Al E, who ranked him No. 15.
Michigan assistant running backs coach Fred Jackson was even more emphatic: “I've brought in a lot of good football players over the years, but as a freshman, he's probably the most talented guy I've seen that I brought in here as a true freshman. He's already beyond what I think a freshman is capable of doing. ...
He is such a tremendous competitor, worker, tremendous talent, can run, can catch, can block. He's got it all at a young age.
I've had to develop guys to get him there, maybe in his sophomore year. He's there now and that's very unique to me.
He's special as a talent. Very special.”
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