Every year, there are always some first-year players who end up seeing the field early and often, often with mixed results. At Michigan football, for every Chris Evans, who bursts onto the scene in his first game, there are also highly-touted players who play early, but take a little while to get the motor running.
For Michigan running back Savion Hiter, the thought and the hope is he’s closer to being like Evans was in 2016, making an early impact. ESPN put out a list on Wednesday of the true freshmen who have the most pressure to perform in year one, and Hiter made the list.
2026 SC Next 300 ranking: No. 24
The Wolverines return third-year rusher Jordan Marshall after his breakout 2025 campaign. But Michigan is expected to run the ball even more under new offensive coordinator Jason Beck, and with few proven contributors behind Marshall, Hiter could be headed for a sizable backfield role as the program looks to maximize quarterback Bryce Underwood’s second season under center.
Hiter’s combination of power and speed at 6-foot, 210 pounds make him an explosive, difficult-to-tackle runner who frequently gains yards after contact. Marshall’s 150 carries a year ago marked a career high. Assuming the Wolverines plan to manage his workload diligently in 2026, Hiter could quickly become an integral part of the Day 1 backfield rotation in one of the nation’s most intriguing offenses.
Given that Marshall and Bryson Kuzdzal return, the pressure on Hiter would likely be more internal in variety. He will most certainly be able to come along a bit more slowly, much like Donovan Edwards was given some time with Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum ahead of him in 2021. Of course, the hope would be that Hiter can rise up the depth chart quickly, but as far as pressure is concerned, it would most likely be more of the internal variety compared to early expectations heaped upon him.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football: ESPN says Savion Hiter faces freshman pressure
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
