Class of 2026 running back Savion Hiter (High-ter) posted a picture from his recent visit to Tennessee on social media Monday morning.
The picture showed Hiter alongside Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel as the five-star prospect also tagged Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims in the post.
“Another great visit to Rocky Top,” Hiter wrote. “Appreciate @Vol_Footballl for having me #GBO”
Another great visit to Rocky Top
appreciate @Vol_Football for having me #GBO
@coachjoshheupel @DeRailSims @milesrobinsonjr @lionwingcoach @CoachMcCannERT pic.twitter.com/LMqgCpBDsa
— Savion “Cinco” Hiter (High-ter) (@5starsavi) April 7, 2025
The running back from Louisa County High School in Mineral, VA, ranks as one of the top players in the 2026 recruiting cycle. 247Sports’ Composite Rankings have the 5-foot-11, 200-pound back as a five-star prospect, the No. 13 player in the class, the No. 1 running back in the nation, and the top player from the state of Virginia.
“Juiced-up running back with star potential for a College Football Playoff contender given the mix of his burst, power, agility, balance and vision,” 247’s Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins wrote about Hiter in a January evaluation. “Has dominated the combine setting (1.52 10-yard split, 4.12 shuttle, 36-inch vertical jump) and is equipped with ready-to-play mass as he’s already tipping the scales at 200 pounds. Effective as both an inside and outside runner as he’s quick to chart a course and charge forward. Fast feet allow him to side-step trouble as he frequently dances around would-be tacklers in the backfield and turns negative plays into positive plays.”
While the star 2026 prospect has racked up nearly 30 scholarship offers through the recruiting process so far, Tennessee is one of the small handful of programs that have been standing out. In mid-February, Hiter released his final four schools, consisting of Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, and Tennessee. Hiter also announced official visits to each of those programs with Tennessee and Josh Heupel getting the final one in just a few months:
- Ohio State: May 30- June 1
- Georgia: June 6-8
- Michigan: June 13-15
- Tennessee: June 19-22
More from RTI: Tennessee Football Commit Schedules Official Visits Five Other Schools
It’s stating the obvious to say that Hiter would be a grand-slam get for the Vols, but not something that Tennessee has been unfamiliar with in recent classes. Heupel and his staff landed David Sanders Jr., the No. 2 offensive tackle, in the 2025 class and already have a commitment from Faizon Brandon, the No. 1 quarterback and prospect in the 2026 cycle. Adding a running back with the skill of Hiter alongside a quarterback like Brandon to a team that just received Sanders is an offensive coach’s dream.
It does appear that it could be an uphill battle for Tennessee, though not by much. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Georgia leading the way at 27.9%, followed by Ohio State at 21.0%, Tennessee at 18.0%, and Michigan at 15.0%. While projections aren’t always indicative of the current landscape, it appears as though all four teams will have an equal chance to impress during Hiter’s OV tour this spring.
Here’s a look at what makes Savion Hiter the top-ranked running back in the 2026 cycle and a coveted target by Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers:
