RB Savion Hiter drawing raves in first camp with Michigan football
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Michigan football has a pair of running backs who return with proven production in 2026.
Jordan Marshall (150 carries, 932 yards and 10 touchdowns) and Bryson Kuzdzal (76 carries for 326 yards and four touchdowns) combined for more than 1,200 yards and 14 scores a season ago. But fans could be even more excited for the Wolverines’ third RB, even though he hasn’t taken a snap in college.
Savion Hiter, a five-star freshman, arrives in Ann Arbor as the top-ranked freshman running back, per 247 Sports’ composite rankings. He enrolled early, moved into an apartment (helped by position coach Tony Alford) and got to work, grabbing the attention of coaches and players alike.
“When he showed up, you knew off the film he has a lot of talent, a lot of ability, but what I’ve been impressed with is just how hard he goes and competes in everything all the time,” offensive coordinator Jason Beck said earlier this spring. “He’s in there, and he’s going as hard as you can go, whether he’s right or wrong, he’s just going.
“That’s a great skill set to have when you just get out there and compete full speed, because you can coach up and get better at everything, but that effort and intensity will allow him to have an impact.”
In his final two seasons at Louisa County High School in Mineral, Virginia, Hiter ran for 3,143 yards − averaging more than 10 yards per carry − and racked up 51 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he had 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns and even starred on the special teams, returning five kickoffs for touchdowns.
Kyle Whittingham called Hiter, while talking to On3, a “6-foot ball of muscle.” This comes after the coach spent time this spring explaining to media that his program operates as a meritocracy –players will earn their time based on a achievement and work, not status or past experience.
“I don’t care if a guy’s been there five days or five years,” Whittingham told On3. “If he gives you the best chance to win, you play him. That’s what it boils down to: Who gives you the best chance to win? There are several guys that will be playing for us this year that are very young and talented enough to help us out.
“[Hiter is] tough, has great contact balance, a smart, smart young man who does a good job with pass protection … He’s still got some technique things to iron out, but he’s not afraid. He sticks his nose right in there and has great hands. He’s the whole package.”
Coaches aren’t the only ones to take notice. Marshall has taken notice of the way Hiter has gone about his business.
Marshall sets the tone for the team, an undisputed leader of the offense as a bruising runner who put his body to the brink a season ago while gutting through a shoulder injury as long as he could against Ohio State.
The third-year back appreciates the approach Hiter has brought: Instead of coming in with an ego, Hiter has seemed eager to pick up tips and tricks from those who’ve done it longer at a higher level.
“He wants to learn, he listens when we ask him to do something,” Marshall said last month. “He’s so willing to learn, he’s excited to get better. And he not only listens to me, but no matter who it is in the running back room, and that’s something that a good player needs to have.
“He’s next level; I’m excited to watch him, make sure that he gets better and he goes down in history here as well.”
Michigan fans should get their first look at Hiter on Saturday, April 18, in the annual Maize vs. Blue spring games (2 p.m., Big Ten Network) at Michigan Stadium.
Still, it’s not a guarantee − Whittingham said previously “there’s going to be a lot of ones who don’t participate. We’re not going to put a guy in there that we know what he can do.”
He appears firmly in the rotation, and teammates say he’s right in line to make an impact.
“I mean he fits right in,” tight end Hogan Hansen said. “You would not think he’s a freshman in his first spring ball at all. He’s an explosive, dynamic guy and sticks out on film.”
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football RB Savion Hiter stands out in practice
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