TTUN just landed 5-star running back Savion Hiter, out-recruiting the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, and Tennessee Volunteers for the Louisa County (VA) star.
The Athletic's Austin Meek believes it was long overdue for former OSU running backs coach Tony Alford, who has yet to reel in an elite RB until now, leaving the 2026 recruiting class behind the 8-ball at what was a position of strength.
Meek also spoke of how important it is for the Wolverines to have beaten the Buckeyes on the recruiting trail.
"Hiter was the closest thing to a must-have prospect that Michigan had in 2026. The Wolverines have one other running back committed, three-star prospect Jonathan Brown, and were keeping the top slot open for Hiter. He’s exactly the kind of prospect Michigan had in mind when the Wolverines hired running backs coach Tony Alford away from Ohio State. Alford, who recruited another five-star running back from Virginia in former Buckeyes star TreVeyon Henderson, had yet to pull off a blockbuster recruiting win in two years at Michigan," Meek wrote.
"Hiter’s commitment is another win for Michigan in its ongoing recruiting war against Ohio State, though Tennessee emerged as Michigan’s biggest challenger as the recruiting process unfolded. Hiter took his final official visit to Knoxville and deliberated throughout the summer, making him the highest-rated uncommitted player in the composite rankings heading into Tuesday’s announcement."
In a broader sense, landing Hiter is deflating in the wake of minimal punishments in Ann Arbor for the Connor Stalions saga.
They say cheaters never win, but it sure feels like they do right now.
Alford had nothing to do with the cheating, of course. He was hired by the Wolverines in 2024. But he will benefit from the lack of condemnation from the NCAA to TTUN for it.