Savion Hiter is wasting no time making himself impossible to ignore in Michigan’s fall camp.
The freshman running back has already turned heads with the kind of power that jumps off the screen, and a clip from a drill showed exactly why people around the program are buzzing. Hiter wasn’t just moving through the work - he was driving through it, showing off the size and force that make him look like a problem for any defense that has to line up across from him.
Rivals may shrug and point out that it was only a drill, but the point is hard to miss. Running backs are not supposed to move a blocking sled like that, and Hiter did it with the kind of explosiveness that matches the hype.
If Jordan Marshall brings speed and agility, Hiter brings the hammer. He looks like the back who can break tackles, get to the second level, and finish runs with authority.
That kind of showing also helps explain why Michigan players were already talking about being sore after tackling him during spring practices. After seeing the footage, that reaction makes a lot more sense.
Of course, the depth chart still starts with Marshall. The junior back nearly got to 1,000 rushing yards last season even without being the full-time RB1, and with two years of college football behind him, plus work with running backs coach Tony Alford, he has every reason to handle the bigger share of the workload in Michigan’s duo backfield.
But Hiter’s early camp momentum raises the real question: what happens if he becomes the more dangerous back once the season starts?
Michigan has the chance to build one of the best run games in the country with this tandem, and that puts Tony Alford and offensive coordinator Jason Beck in a spot where production could matter more than order. If Hiter is ripping through defenses, the staff may have to lean on the hot hand rather than stick rigidly to Marshall first and Hiter second.
That would not necessarily push Marshall out of the picture. He could still be used more as a passing back while Hiter takes on the heavier, more physical work between the tackles. It is a setup that could suit both backs, especially if Hiter keeps looking like the kind of runner who can wear defenses down.
And there is a real path for both of them to put up huge numbers. It is not unrealistic to think Marshall and Hiter could each come close to, or even top, 1,000 rushing yards this season, something most recently seen with the Buckeyes in 2024.
Michigan may need that kind of production, too. With Bryce Underwood at quarterback and games against Oklahoma, Oregon, Ohio State, and Iowa on the schedule, along with other heavy hitters, the Wolverines are going to need their ground game to hold up against elite defenses. If Hiter keeps flashing this way, Michigan may eventually have no choice but to let him take on the lion’s share.
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Michigans linebacker room has been one of the more closely watched parts of camp, and the transfer haul only added to the intrigue. The Wolverines brought in three linebackers through the portal this offseason, giving the position a different look as the staff tries to sort out who can help right away and who can provide dependable depth once the season starts.
One of the more interesting names in the mix has already made a strong early impression. The move has given Michigan another experienced body at a spot where it still needs multiple reliable options, and while a starting job is hardly settled, the competition is at least giving the Wolverines more flexibility than they had entering the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Carr Is Reviving A Michigan Quarterback What-If Fans Know Well
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What makes it even more notable is the broader family context around the Carr name. Tommys brother, CJ Carr, was once recruited by Michigan before ending up at Notre Dame, and the possibility of both brothers having been in Ann Arbor at the same time has become one of those familiar recruiting what-ifs for fans to revisit as the past and present briefly overlap in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fall Camp Is Starting To Reveal One Defining Battle
Michigans first week of fall camp has already started to sharpen the picture for the season opener against Western Michigan, and a lot of the early attention is settling on the offensive line. The Wolverines are sorting through several position battles up front, with players such as Evan Link and Blake Frazier in the mix, while a handful of true freshmen are also being pushed into consideration for roles. Elsewhere, the receiver group is still coming together behind Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan, and quarterback J.J. Underwood has shown steady improvement under coaching.
On the defensive side, John Henry Daley and Rod Moore are being brought along carefully after opening camp on pitch counts, a reminder that Michigan is trying to balance urgency with long-term health this early in August. Even with that caution, the early read is that both are moving toward being available when the games count, which gives the staff some stability as it continues to evaluate one of the camps most important unresolved jobs up front. [Read more 🡒]