Name: Savion Hiter
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 212 lbs.
High school: Mineral (VA) Louisa County
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #5
Last year: Hiter was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran for 1,445 yards and 25 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: N/A
Having dipped my toe into recruiting for the last couple decades now, it's hard to say much is certain, but I feel like I can say this pretty confidently:
It's hard to think of a high school recruit who has engendered this much hype or, perhaps, innate confidence than Savion Hiter.
Everyone just talks about Hiter like it's a given that he will be a good player immediately in college. There was hype for Bryce Underwood, but quarterbacks always have growing pains as freshmen. People were excited about Will Johnson, but he was joining a pretty solid defensive backfield and had time to grow and develop into the second half of his first year. Nobody expects much from freshman linebackers or guys in the trenches.
But Hiter, according to some, would be starting at most places right now. He's discussed as a guy who might be Michigan's #1 running back by the end of the season and someone who looks like an NFL running back already. That's high praise for a guy who has yet to take a college snap.
Regardless of whether Hiter is ready now or not, he needs to play. Michigan does not have great depth at running back, at least not of the proven variety. While they tried to bring in a couple veterans in 2025 (C.J. Hester, John Volker) to help the 1-2 punch of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, this year the staff is relying on homegrown talent, including former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal. Marshall will presumably start off as the main guy, and then there's Hiter. After that there's Kuzdzal, who has good speed and patience but not much tackle breaking ability, and then a few guys who have never played college football before. At some point this season, Hiter will be needed for some key carries.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Hiter can do in college. I really liked his acceleration in high school, and he brings some physicality with him. I'm not so sure that he will become the #1 guy by the end of the year like some think will happen, but if the duo of Marshall and Hiter can stay relatively healthy throughout the year, this should be the best running back combo in the Big Ten conference.
Prediction: Backup running back
Whats your prediction for his stats this year?
ReplyDeleteI’m super excited about Hiter. Our OL “should” be improved, but even last year both Haynes and Marshall had big moments. Our new stud should have big moments … as long as he stays healthy
ReplyDeleteThere's been talk about having both in the backfield at the same time. It'll be interesting to see how creative and effective they are in using that formation.
ReplyDeleteDon't hold your breath on this. I'm guessing they'll do it at some point but this idea always gets way more hype than it warrants. It never made more sense than in 2024 (2 high end RBs - one with FB-level blocking skills and the other with WR-level receiving skills, combined with a weak WR group) and we still saw it infrequently.
Delete2025 and 2026 have quite different parameters; namely, a different coaching staff. It doesn't mean Whittingham and company will use it, but a comparison to 2025 is challenging because ... well, I'm not sure anyone really knew what they were doing on the offensive side of the ball.
DeleteWeak WR group in 24? I was told they were pLaYmAkErS
DeleteThose aren't synonyms.
DeleteRB is probably the easiest position to predict going from HS to college so I think the confidence in Hiter is more justified than most hyped up freshman. I'm usually skeptical on counting on freshman to do anything at all -- but feel no concern with locking in Hiter as the backup RB immediately, and expecting him to do it well.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concerns would be the things that tend to get better over time -- ball security and pass blocking.
While I'll never agree with Thunder on the relative value of RB to other positions, I can absolutely share in the excitement of watching elite athletes like Hiter do their thing -- especially when they are fresh faces. I put Hiter near the top of the Most-Excited-To-See list for game 1 along with Buchanan, Daley, Snowden, Bracy, Babaloloa and Moa. Oh and Rod Moore gotta be on the list too - I want to see him back looking like Rod Moore out there.
I am not too concerned about our top RB's being dominate.
ReplyDelete1- They are really good.
2- We run blocked really well last year and we should have maybe the best OL in the B10,
3- We are running Underwood, which will open up lanes.
4- This coaching staff knows how to coordinate a top RB attack.
Now, the concerns are keeping the top guys healthy, it seems like every year we get multiple injuries. We lost Haynes half way into the season and Marshall not too much later. We lost Corum for long stretches.
Yep. They’re both physical runners, and will be used A LOT
ReplyDeleteGotta hope they can stay healthy