The 2026 recruiting wars are officially on, with lists of top targets flying fast and furious. Michigan’s right in the thick of it, flexing their NIL muscle and taking a ‘reload, don’t rebuild’ approach. Their prize target? Five-star running back Savion Hiter from Louisa County. The Wolverines aren’t just dipping their toes in the water; they’re all in, head over heels. They’ve already got two talented backs committed for 2025—Jasper Parker and Donovan Johnson—but Hiter is a game-changer. He’s the kind of player who can elevate a program from good to great. Michigan might be in the driver’s seat right now, but as they say, it ain’t over ’til it’s over. There’s still a long road to signing day.

The recruiting battle for Hiter just got even more intense. On Saturday, the nation’s No. 1 RB made a major announcement, narrowing his list to 4 powerhouse programs. As On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported, “BREAKING: Elite 2026 RB Savion Hiter is down to 4️⃣ Schools.” The 4 schools still in the hunt?

Georgia, OSU, Michigan, and Tennessee Vols. Hiter isn’t just cutting down his list—he’s making moves. He’s officially set visits to each contender, locking in crucial dates. As the post detailed, “The No. 1 RB in ‘26 has locked in OVs to each of his finalists: Ohio State- May 30-June 1, Georgia- June 6-8, Michigan- June 13-15, Tennessee- June 19-22.” Now, it’s a full-court press for these programs to land the future star.

While four schools are still in the mix, Josh Heupel’s Vols have crashed the final 4 with authority. Interestingly, none of these programs have secured an RB commitment in their 2026 class—leaving Hiter as the crown jewel of their backfield plans. But here’s where Vols stands out. And the Vols lead all four contenders in On3’s recruiting team rankings, sitting at No. 6. With the way Heupel is building this 2026 class, Vols could be the perfect landing spot for Hiter.

The Under Armour All-America Game player on Team Icon also shared what he liked best about Knoxville during his Nov visit. “It was electric. People are just together as a family, cheering for everybody and everybody rooting for Tennessee… I expected big out of Tennessee, and I got what I expected,” Hiter stated.

But don’t count Michigan out just yet. Hiter has already made a few trips to Ann Arbor. And he’s set to return for an official visit in June. Additionally, Sherrone Moore is in an excellent position to entice Hiter, according to a Michigan insider. He stated, “When it comes to Savion Hiter, I would say Michigan still has the momentum in that recruitment.” So, the Wolverines are still very much in the fight. But here’s where things get interesting—his connection to Tennessee might run deeper than it seems.

The Tennessee connection of Savion Hiter

As a sophomore, the Mineral native ran for 1,060 yards and 10 TDs, setting impressive records. But more noteworthy than his numbers is the relationship he has developed with Tennessee. Since his freshman year, the Vols have been there for him, and they have made their intentions known. Hiter himself attested to it, stating, “I mean, I’m a priority to them. I feel like they made it known that they want me, and I made it known that they’re one of my top schools right now.” As his recruitment draws to a close, that link might be crucial.

The connections he’s built within the program have only grown stronger over time. “I have the best relationship with them the most since my freshman year, and I built it with Coach (Aston) Walter and I had it with Coach (Jerry) Mack before Coach Sims came. And now I have it with Coach Sims,” Hiter said. With long-standing ties and trust in the staff, the Vols have positioned themselves as a serious contender in his recruitment.

But nothing is set in stone yet. Considering his overall ranking, who wouldn’t want to land this elite running back? Hiter is rated as the No. 20 overall prospect, via On3. As of now, Michigan isn’t backing down in its pursuit. They’ll do everything they can to secure him. Let’s wait and see how it all unfolds.