A lot of people in the college football world were speculating where Savion Hiter was going to pursue his next opportunity. Hiter was the highest-ranked uncommitted recruit in the class of 2026 cycle before he announced his commitment on Tuesday, August 19.
According to Rivals and 247 Sports, Hiter was the number one-ranked running back in the country. He visited Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee over the summer.
“[The recruiting process] was long and busy with all of the travel,” Hiter said. “But I got through it all with the help of my family.”
Early last week, the class of 2026 and Hiter’s teammates gathered in the auditorium along with professional news sources, including ESPN and CBS6, to watch Hiter announce his commitment. Four hats representing each university sat on the table, and Hiter picked up the hat in maize blue, solidifying his commitment to the University of Michigan. He is their highest running back recruit since the ranking era started.
“It was a blessing,” Hiter said. “And I thank God for that with my teammates and coaches that helped me get here along the way too.”
Hiter’s teammate Dyzier Carter is a wide receiver for the football team and is currently committed to play football at Rutgers University. Carter has shared a close bond with Hiter since they were in elementary school.
“[The bond] has been great, ever since kindergarten and going against each other,” Carter said. “We always made each other better, and we competed, so it’s just a blessing that it’s come this far.”
Rutgers University is in the Big Ten conference and is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. With Hiter committing to the Michigan Wolverines, Carter and Hiter will play in the same conference and will face off against each other when
(Karleigh Lundy)
Michigan travels to Rutgers in 2026.
“Being able to see him on the other sideline and playing against him is going to be special,” Carter said. “But being on the same team for a long time will make playing him feel different.”
Before Hiter announced where he would be playing college football, head coach, Will Patrick, delivered a message. He noted Hiter as a great football player and an even better person, calling him “humble” and “what we teach at Louisa.”
“I’m proud of him,” Patrick said. “Committing is the easy part. Now he has to go finish his senior year and when he gets to college, everyone’s a dude so he needs to go and make a name for himself.”
Patrick has worked with Hiter since he was in middle school and brought him up to the varsity team in 9th grade. Hiter transferred to Woodberry Forest in his sophomore year before returning to Louisa his junior year. When Hiter returned, the football team was 0-2. The team ended up finishing 9-3, and was a yard short of advancing to the 5C Region Championship game.
“Great people make people around them great,” Patrick said. “He made the program greater than it’s ever been, like the young man is amazing.”
Lavartrell Creasy is also a running back on the football team who competes with Hiter everyday. Hiter leaves an impact on Creasy as a running back, and as a classmate.
“[Competing’s] hard every day, but he just motivates me to get better, and I take that day to day to increase by one percent,” Creasy said. “He’s impacted me by increasing my daily skill, working hard every morning, getting my school work complete, and just being an overall student athlete.”
Hiter has put himself in the history books in the football program. Getting ready for his senior season, he looks to finish his career at Louisa by leaving a lasting legacy.
“It feels great to inspire the younger football players in the community and help develop my teammates,” Hiter said. “This place is something special to me and I am never going to forget it.”
