As far as commitments go, for Michigan football at least, they don't get much bigger than that of five-star running back Savion Hiter.
It's not quite on the level of Bryce Underwood, but it's darn close. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back out of Mineral, Virginia, committed to the Wolverines on Tuesday over the likes of Tennessee, Georgia, and yes, Ohio State.
Running backs coach Tony Alford deserves a ton of credit. However, this is another feather in the cap of head coach Sherrone Moore, who continues to land five-star recruits, and top-100 prospects at a blue-blood rate.
Here are five takeaways from the commitment of Savion Hiter.
The biggest commitment since Bryce Underwood
Hiter is ranked No. 9 in the 2026 class, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. He's elite with a capital E. Quarterback is the most important position in college football, but if you look at most national champions, they have elite running backs, too.
Michigan and Ohio State each had two. Georgia always had multiple elite backs. Alabama never had a title team without an NFL-caliber back. It's essential.
And Michigan filled that need. The Wolverines had struggled with running back recruiting since landing Jordan Marshall in the 2024 class. Jasper Parker was a steal in 2025, but Michigan had a top-200 commitment or signee at every position but running back in the 2025/2026 classes.
Now that box has been checked in a very big way. It also came on Bryce Underwood's birthday.
The missing piece to a national title run
It was a huge bummer when five-star wideout Calvin Russell picked Syracuse over Michigan. He felt like the five-star wideout Michigan needed to pair with Underwood.
Yet, the five-star wideout wasn't the missing piece, it was Hiter.
Missing on Russell allowed Michigan to have more NIL resources available for Hiter. That doesn't mean that's why they won this recruitment, however, it had a similar vibe to Underwood in the sense that Michigan wasn't going to let another school beat it out on money alone.
That's because Hiter now gives Michigan everything it needs to win a natinonal title with Bryce Underwood. We have documented the wide receiver talent, even without Russell, especially when you factor in a top-10 tight end like Matt Ludwig.
The Wolverines have landed three receivers ranked in the top 150 overall in the past two classes. That's more than enough talent, especially when you have five-stars at quarterback, running back, and on the offensive line, assuming Andrew Babalola returns 100 percent next season.
Marshall will be a senior by the time the 2027 season rolls around. He might be in the NFL by then. However, Hiter can contribute right away in 2026, especially if Justice Haynes has the kind of season we expect, and by his sophomore season, Michigan might have the best QB/RB duo in college football.
It will be the birthday gift that keeps on giving for Michigan football fans.
Michigan football recruiting is a completely different level
It's fair to ask if Michigan can continue to develop players at the rate it did under Jim Harbaugh. Sometimes, as with guys like Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, it's more about evaluation and a little luck than development, although that didn't hurt.
If Michigan can develop like it did under Harbaugh, the rest of college football better watch out, because the Wolverines have accumulated some elite talent over the past two classes.
With the commitment of Hiter, Michigan football has signed (or currently has committed) four five-star prospects. The Wolverines have seven who ranked in the top 100, and 21 among the top 200.
That includes multiple QBs, an RB, three WRS, multiple OL/DL, LB, CB, S, and TE. You have multiple EDGE players as well as interior defensive linemen.
From a recruiting perspective, there's not much to complain about over the past two recruiting classes. And all the haters who thought the NCAA ruling was going to impact things for Michigan football on the recruiting trail were mistaken, again.
Sherrone Moore has the Wolverines headed for a second straight top-10 class, and in the next few years, with Underwood, everything is on the table.