One is “charging hard” and another is labeled as the “dark horse.”

Sherrone Moore knew recruiting at Michigan wouldn’t get easier after taking over the reins from Jim Harbaugh, but even he might not have anticipated the dogfight unfolding for the nation’s top running back. Savion Hiter, the four-star phenom out of Virginia, has been at the top of Michigan’s 2026 recruiting board for months, and for good reason. The Wolverines have put in the work, building strong ties with Hiter and his family, and for now, they remain in the driver’s seat. But as history has shown, recruiting battles for generational talents rarely stay uncontested. And in this case, Moore isn’t just fending off his fiercest Big Ten rivals — there’s a full-fledged SEC invasion coming for Hiter’s commitment.

They aren’t just fed up with Columbus, as Ohio State Buckeyes have predictably flirted with their Louisa County HS boy. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Hiter blends power, vision, and breakaway speed in a way that makes him a can’t-miss prospect for any program looking to build its ground game around a true difference-maker. That’s why, 247Sports’ composite rankings crowned him the No. 1 player in the state of Virginia. However, on Wednesday, On3’s recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong indicated that Sherrone Moore and Michigan are currently reigning the helm by signing a No. 6 in the 25’ recruiting class.

But he also revealed that, three powerhouse programs now doing everything in their power to derail Michigan’s plans. The Buckeyes’ recruiting machine, as relentless as ever, has positioned themselves as a real player in this race, and Savion Hiter is scheduled to visit them at the end of May. But the real storm is brewing further south. Georgia Bulldogs is making an aggressive push, charging hard to bring Hiter to Athens, while Tennessee Volunteers is lurking as a dark horse with serious momentum.

According to Wiltfong, Michigan is still leading the charge, but the Bulldogs aren’t far behind. “The Mineral (Va.) Louisa County running back remains No. 1 at his position. Michigan has been setting the pace in his recruitment but Georgia is charging hard, Tennessee is a darkhorse and Ohio State rounds out the top four,” Wiltfong reported on Monday. That’s the kind of recruiting pressure that can test any coaching staff, no matter how strong the early ties to a player may seem.

Hiter’s recruitment has taken on a life of its own, with Kirby Smart rolling out the red carpet in an attempt to flip the script. He has already been on the Bulldogs’ campus four times. And if that wasn’t enough to make the Wolverines sweat, Hiter has an official visit scheduled with UGA on June 6. Add in his other June visits to Michigan and Tennessee, plus his late-May stop at Ohio State, and it’s easy to see why the Wolverines can’t afford to take their foot off the gas.

What makes this battle even more intriguing is the strong relationship Hiter has built with Michigan’s coaching staff, particularly running backs coach Tony Alford and HC Sherrone Moore. Alford, a respected recruiter with deep ties across the country, has done a masterful job in keeping Michigan at the forefront. But relationships alone won’t win this fight — not when Georgia is dangling a pipeline to the NFL, Tennessee is pitching its high-powered offense, and Ohio State is offering the chance to follow in the footsteps of some of college football’s most dominant backs.

The reality is: Michigan has no choice but to fight tooth and nail to keep its edge in this recruitment. All want what Sherrone Moore wants. All of that being said, there is nothing that the Wolverines can do at this point other than recruit and hope for the best.

Savion Hiter, “a juiced-up playmaker” and his relationship with Sherrone Moore

With a blend of burst, power, agility, balance, and vision, Savion Hiter has all the makings of a star at a College Football Playoff contender. And according to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins, he’s already proving it in the Combine setting, where his elite athleticism is on full display. A blistering 1.52-second 10-yard split, a 4.12-second shuttle, and a 36-inch vertical jump? Yeah, that’s not normal — it’s elite. And at 200 pounds, he’s already built like a college-ready back.

Michigan has taken notice. Hiter visited Ann Arbor over the summer and has built a strong relationship with running backs coach Tony Alford and head coach Sherrone Moore. According to his mother, the Wolverines are making it clear that he’s a priority. “I would say from his standpoint and our standpoint, they’ve set the bar really high,” she said. “From the beginning, the whole staff has been involved. They’ve been very consistent. We’ve built a great relationship with not only Coach Tony Alford but also Head Coach Sherrone Moore. All of their staff keeps in touch and makes sure we know Savion is their top priority in this class.”