You get the No. 1 prospect of a recruiting class on your team, other programs will watch out for you. That seems to be the case for Savion Hiter in the 2026 class, who has multiple A-list programs going all in for him. Ryan Day, in particular, is fighting hard to get further up on Hiter’s list. But recruiting is always a cutthroat battle, and it won’t be easy for Day. The Buckeyes are in the interests of the class topper, and they sure aren’t going down without a fight.
Hiter hails from Mineral, Virginia, and 247Sports ranks him as the number one running back. For his age, the accolades he has are overwhelming in stature. He participated in the 2025 Under Armour All-American game and made it into the MaxPreps Junior All-American in 2024. In his junior year, Hiter made 156 carries for 1,698 yards and 26 TDs. He also turned into a two-way player during this time and made 56 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 interception. These are huge numbers to make in just one year. Hiter is also among the select group of players who can deliver on both sides of the team. So there’s a win-win everywhere he goes.
Naturally, college football’s biggest names are clamoring for him. Among them is Ohio State, who sits at the bottom of his top-4 list. Ranked number one in his interests is Michigan. On3‘s Josh Newberg and Steve Wiltfong discussed the way ahead for OSU in a March 30 video of On3 Recruits. They also talked about whether the Buckeyes will be able to steal Hiter from Michigan. He had a concerning and uplifting update.
“Well, Tennessee and Georgia are in there. And he’s been to Georgia already a couple times this calendar year, and the Vols have some runway to make a move as well.” OSU is hosting Hiter along with some other hopefuls over the weekend, which Wiltfong thinks can be of use. “This is an opportunity for them to really thrust themselves closer to the top of the list. They also have Savion Heider on the itinerary for an official visit this summer,” Wiltfong noted.
He also explained how the weekend is essential for the Day to bag Hiter. “Look, I’ve had some college coaches tell me Savion Heider is the best high school prospect in the country regardless of position. So, to be in the top four here with the chance to make a move is big for Ohio State.”
Wiltfong added how Hiter would approach the campus visit as well. “He’s going to get on campus for spring practice, get around the players on the team, get around the staff again, and I think he’s going to see what a fit it is for him. He loved following them through the national championship run, so he’s talked about that pedigree with the program.”
Ohio might have an edge, Wiltfong thinks, with the commits they already have. He also said that Hiter would make a seal-the-deal addition to a class that’s “heating up.” “They have three O-linemen committed. We’ll be able to show that to Savion Heider and others that are on campus this weekend.” Day will have some high hopes heading into the weekend, especially to bolster up his roster.
Ryan Day has an important issue to mitigate in the QB room
Back in the QB room, however, an alarm bell is sounding from Julian Sayin. He is everything Ryan Day could ever want in a QB. The majority of experts think he should be OSU’s starting QB for this season too. The other contenders for Sayin’s probable spot are Lincoln Kienholz and true freshman Tavien St. Clair. Sayin came in from Alabama, hoping for a better future at Ohio State. While it does seem that Sayin might be getting closer to realizing that dream, a particular concern needs to be addressed by Day.
Zach Smith of Menace 2 Sports said in a March 30 episode, “I worry that Julian Sayin might just be the perfect seven-on-seven quarterback.” “That’s my biggest concern, and I hope that he can change that kind of belief. Because of that, we’ve seen really gifted arm talent guys come through Ohio State, and sometimes it just feels like something is missing, and that’s kind of what I’m getting from Julian Sayin,” he added. Now, his mixed opinion might confuse you. The seven-on-seven formation will hinder Sayin from getting a good look at the field. That’s a somewhat minor concern and nothing some good prep won’t solve.
Sayin has everything in him to bag the job; he just has to keep going at it to conquer this possible hindrance. And just like him, even HC Ryan Day has to give it his all to get Hiter to move to Columbus. The ball is in the latter’s court. Day just has to convince him to serve back to only him.
The post Ryan Day & OSU Hit With Upsetting No. 1 RB Savion Hiter Update Amid Growing Julian Sayin Concerns appeared first on EssentiallySports.