The 2026 recruiting class is beginning to pick up steam for Michigan football. The staff has been on the road visiting targets, including two elite running backs that the maize and blue would love to land.
Earlier this week, Head Coach Sherrone Moore, running backs coach Tony Alford, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, offensive line coach Grant Newsome, and General Manager Sean Magee were in Virginia to visit the nation's #1 running back, Savion Hiter. Michigan football is currently viewed as the leader in Hiter's recruitment, and this visit definitely reinforced that.
Hiter has said that he wants to make his commitment during the Summer. He currently plans to take official visits to Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio State before announcing his commitment. Right now, the Wolverines appear to be in a great spot with Hiter. It's clear that the Wolverines are his #1 team at the moment, and the presence of Sean Magee indicates that Michigan will not be outbid.
Michigan football is trending up with 2026 running backs
Michigan is going all in on Hiter, and so far they appear to be in an excellent position. Hiter isn't the only elite running back that Michigan football is going after, however. The Wolverines want to land a dynamic running back duo, and the second running back they've been pursuing heavily is top-100 Texas running back Javian Osborne.
The in-state Longhorns are currently viewed as the favorite for Osborne, but Michigan is pushing hard for him too. Sherrone Moore, Chip Lindsey, Sean Magee, and Tony Alford also visited Osborne this week. The Wolverines seem to be pitching the idea of being an elite duo with Hiter, and the two seem to be interested.
Michigan has had a lot of success recently with two running back systems, and the same should be true in 2025 with Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes. Having two elite backs allows them to take fewer carries and therefore lowers the risk of injury.
It'll be tough for the Wolverines to snatch Osborne away from the Longhorns. However, Michigan seems prepared to go all in on NIL, which means the Wolverines will certainly have a shot.