No. 1 RB Savion Hiter Puts Ryan Day on Notice as Fresh Intel Spells Trouble for Ohio State

Ryan Day is one happy coach at the moment. He’s just got a National Championship in the bag and is putting together a great roster. When it comes to his 2026 recruiting, Ohio State is currently ranked No. 4, one place higher than its 2025 ranking. 82% of the 11 OSU commits are blue chips. So, we know Day is successfully going after the best in the class. However, as he looks to bag a 5-star prospect, another program is trying to derail Day’s train.

The prospect in question is elite running back Savion Hiter, out of Mineral, Louisa County. He’s currently the No. 1 ranked RB in the 2026 class, and the 11th best prospect in the country. In his junior year, he made 156 carries and ran for 1,698 yards, and also scored 26 TDs. Hiter received two MaxPreps All-American team selections, one as a sophomore and one as a junior. He also has Under Armour All-American playing credits. Naturally, some big teams are vying to have this star prospect on their teams.

Hiter has his favorites narrowed down. They are Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee. So far, he’s paid a visit to all of these, but spent more time at the first two. He wanted to look at OSU and the Vols more closely in the Spring, and Ryan Day might have reason to worry. Hiter’s mom, Aishia, told On3‘s Steve Wiltfong that the Vols’ culture and support resources have impressed Hiter. “Also it’s a smaller campus than some of the other ones in his top four so it’s more similar to the area here. He likes that,” Aishia added.

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

Moreover, Hiter has also hit it up with RB coach De’Rail Sims, “similar” to how he’s built a rapport with OSU’s Carlos Locklyn. “To be developed by a coach and a coaching staff he feels comfortable with and an offense he can see himself thriving in and can fit very well into,” is a factor Aishia says will be playing into Hiter’s final decision. The Vols currently sit at the No. 10 position in the 2026 class, according to On3 Industry. Ohio State is a favored pick, but Josh Heupel is going neck-and-neck for Savion Hiter, too.

Ohio State is not that far behind in Savion Hiter’s choices

Hiter is, nevertheless, also keeping a close watch on OSU. The main purpose of this visit was to closely observe the coaches at their jobs, particularly Locklyn. “It was important for him to see that and see the team dynamic. See them practice and get a feel for that,” Aishia said. Hiter visited OSU sometime earlier, and Wiltfong thought right then that Day should “really thrust themselves closer to the top of the list.”

He will be landing at OSU for an official visit in May, followed by a visit to Josh Heupel in Knoxville. Both coaches are willing to give anything for this prospect. He’s a top-ranking prospect and has some great numbers and accolades as proof of his talent. An addition like Hiter is going to add an element of recruiting flair to the team that gets him. Tennessee seems to be checking the boxes on fronts apart from just the program, which can be a reason for Day to worry.

Hiter will be giving each of the programs a run for their money. And all of these HCs are ready to give their all for him to join their RB room. After all, what is a recruiting cycle if all the contending schools don’t put up a worthy fight for a star prospect? Day will have to look out for Hiter’s growing interest in Heupel, and present something just as attractive as what he saw in Knoxville.

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