When it comes to the 2026 freshman class, four-star running back Savion Heiter is one of the most highly-touted players this cycle, holding offers from numerous schools in the SEC and Big Ten so far. Has accumulated 25 offers including.
He is considered the No. 1 running back this cycle and a top-20 recruit, according to On3Heiter recently traveled to Tennessee in early November to watch a game and was able to immerse himself in an electric environment for the first time in years.
“The Vols are a great place,” Heiter said Sunday. “Their environment is crazy. I mean, I haven't been there since freshman year, so I feel like I have to go up there and see them again…[Running backs] coach [De’Rail] Sims, he's a great coach, I had to take a look. [Head] coach [Josh] Heupel. I wasn't able to talk to him much when I first got there, so I was very happy to be able to talk to him. ”
Tennessee isn't the only top school targeting Highter, the running back has also received a lot of interest from Michigan recently.
“They're pretty high up there,” Heiter said of the Wolverines. “I mean, it's been there ever since they offered me. I mean, there was already a relationship. [running backs] coach [Tony] Alford came from Ohio State and was very good.
“[Their intensity] I really have [picked up as of late]. “It’s been crazy from when I first started getting hired to now.”
Full junior season highlights
jefferson district champions
11 games
attack-
✅ 1,897 General YDS (1,698 Express, 199 Received)
✅ 29 TD
✅ 156 carry
✅ 10.8 YPCdefense-
✅ Total tackles 56
✅ INT 1
✅ 7 bags
✅ 4 TFLs
✅ 3KRhttps://t.co/GsJqMWSy57— Savion “Cinco” Heiter (Haiter) (@5starsavi) November 26, 2024
As he begins to prepare for his junior year, Heiter has narrowed his list of schools to four: Tennessee, Michigan, Georgia and Ohio State. All four of those schools are expected to get official visits from the star running back, setting the stage for a major recruiting battle with an emerging senior class.
Heiter plans to take another unofficial visit to the school in the spring to better understand his situation, but an official visit is unlikely as there had previously been speculation that the running back would sign early. This is a new development.
NIL has become the talk of the town and is impacting many recruiting efforts in today's world, with some top recruits earning hefty contracts as college freshmen.
How will that impact Hiter's recruitment as he begins to narrow down his list?
“Actually, I'm not that worried. [NIL]But it does factor in a little bit in my recruiting process and things like that,” the running back admitted. “But I don't really get affected by that because everywhere I go, especially with Rev Share and everything else.”
A January visit for Heiter is not currently scheduled, but with Junior Day approaching, that may still be a possibility in the future. All four schools are expected to receive official visits, and the order of the visits could be critical as each team seeks to earn a four-star position as a top priority for the 2026 class.
