Tennessee Still in the Hunt? Delay in Savion Hiter’s Signing Keeps Vols Fans Hopeful
The Early Signing Period is off to a fast and furious start, and Josh Heupel is right in the thick of it. Tennessee’s head coach has already pulled off a few recruiting surprises, and now Vols fans are watching closely-because there might be one more big twist on the way.
The name on everyone’s radar? Savion Hiter, the five-star running back out of Virginia who’s been at the center of a recruiting tug-of-war between Michigan and Tennessee.
Hiter committed to the Wolverines earlier this year, seemingly locking down one of the top offensive weapons in the 2025 class. But as of Wednesday, he still hadn’t put pen to paper.
That delay is raising some serious eyebrows.
According to reports, Hiter is still “on track” to sign with Michigan, but there’s clearly a holdup. And in the world of high-stakes recruiting, a delay like this can open the door-if only slightly-for another program to make a last-minute push. You can bet Heupel and his staff are paying close attention.
Let’s be clear: Hiter hasn’t decommitted. There’s no official indication that he’s flipping.
But when a high-profile prospect doesn’t sign on the first day of the Early Signing Period, it’s usually not because everything is going exactly as planned. And in this case, Tennessee fans have reason to keep dreaming.
Heupel’s already been busy flipping talent. On Wednesday alone, he landed JJ Finch from Alabama, Legend Bey from Ohio State, and Carter Gooden from UCLA. That’s three significant recruiting wins in a single day-momentum that’s hard to ignore.
Of course, it hasn’t all gone Tennessee’s way. Four-star athlete Salesi Moa, who had previously been leaning toward the Vols, committed to Utah instead. But that kind of setback might just fuel Tennessee’s urgency to land a game-changer like Hiter.
There’s also the NIL factor. In today’s recruiting landscape, name, image, and likeness opportunities can shift the balance late in the game. If there’s even a sliver of a chance that Hiter is still weighing his options, Tennessee could be ready to sweeten the pot.
And let’s not forget-this isn’t a brand-new courtship. Hiter was once genuinely torn between Michigan and Tennessee.
That history matters. If Heupel can rekindle that connection and make a compelling final pitch, the Vols might just have a shot.
For now, it’s a waiting game. But as long as Hiter’s signature isn’t on the dotted line, Tennessee remains in the conversation. And in recruiting, sometimes that’s all you need.