Savion Hiter hasn't played a single college snap yet. But the former four-star running back has already caught the buzz ahead of the 2026 season.

Reel Analytics posted a clip of Hiter on X after tracking him, noting he hit 21.1 mph on one touchdown run and carries an IGA Score of 82.9, placing him in the top six percent among 4,902 running backs in their database. Besides the data, praises also dropped in.

"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," assistant running backs coach Fred Jackson said on In the Trenches podcast on June 24.

Jackson's praise on the podcast comes from a coach thas coached running backs at Michigan for years since 2022.

Hiter came in as the No. 1 running back and No. 12 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He rushed for 1,445 yards and 25 touchdowns in high school with a combination of speed and power that doesn't show up often.

"I think you're getting an exceptionally explosive, like off-the-charts explosive, athlete," Running backs coach Tony Alford said on the In The Trenches podcast back in February. "Powerful kid when he moves. You watch him just doing some drill work or conditioning, and he'll make a cut and change direction. It's impressive."

Alford, too, has coached running backs at this level long enough to know what elite looks like. When a position coach uses the phrase off-the-charts, he's seen enough ordinary to know the difference.

Alford also called him an "alpha" with a good football IQ and said he has "a chance to be a special player."

The Wolverines' powerful running game became a trademark during Jim Harbaugh's time as head coach, and it has remained a strength under Sherrone Moore. That success has helped produce NFL draft picks such as Chris Evans, Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum, and Kalel Mullings.

Hiter's maturity matters at a program like Michigan, where the pressure and spotlight are constant. So, the pressure is already increasing.

Savion Hiter will back up Jordan Marshall but Michigan’s staff expects him to contribute immediately

Michigan lost Justice Haynes to Georgia Tech in the transfer portal this offseason, which opened the door for Hiter to step right into a real role.

Jordan Marshall is the starter. He ran for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, and that is not up for debate. But Alford made it clear Hiter is going to be on the field this season regardless.

CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford noted last week that Hiter keeps coming up in conversations inside the program when people talk about freshmen who could make an immediate impact.

"Ask anyone close to the Wolverines' football program and one name tends to surface before others as an immediate impact player based on early on-field returns," reported the analyst.

Kyle Whittingham wants to run the ball and be physical. Having two backs who can actually do that is the kind of depth he is trying to build.

Do you think Savion Hiter can become one of the best running backs in the Big Ten before his career is over? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar