Michigan
Recruiting Roundup: Five-star RB says Michigan is his top school at the moment
2025 is officially here, and with this most of this recruiting cycle signed and bowl practices now over, the majority of recruiting energy for the Michigan Wolverines shifts towards the 2026 class.
To kick off the first edition of the Recruiting Roundup this year, we discuss one of the top ball carriers in the 2026 class showing interest in Michigan.
Five-star RB has Michigan at the top of his list
Five-star Savion Hiter, the top running back in the 2026 class who is ranked 14th overall in his class, told On3’s Steve Wiltfong Michigan is his top school at the moment, with Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee also being top contenders.
“Michigan, I’ve built a good relationship with coach (Tony) Alford and the entire staff really,” Hiter said in August when he put Michigan in his top five. “He first recruited me back when he was at Ohio State and he’s been solid ever since. He’s already been showing me how he could use me in their offense, develop me for the next level and gave me tools to work on and get better.”
Michigan has been a top destination for running backs, with Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum headlining what has been one of Michigan’s most talented position groups. When you combine that with the connection Hiter has made with Alford, things are certainly trending in the right direction.
Per Brian Dohn at 247 ($), Hiter plans to make official visits to all the schools listed above before making a decision. With official visit season several months away, be on the lookout for more news when those visits get scheduled.
Michigan competing with Texas for four-star RB
Hiter isn’t the only 2026 running back the Wolverines are pursuing, as Michigan is also going after four-star Javian Osborne.
Osborne was in Ann Arbor for the Texas loss in September, and while he’s got a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction to commit to the Longhorns, he told On3’s EJ Holland last month he’s still high on the Wolverines.
He expanded on his Michigan interest earlier this week with On3’s Steve Wiltfong ($).
“No. 1, I love that they run the ball,” Osborne said. “They utilize their running backs. They use different schemes, zone, power whatever it is. I feel I can fit in. Since coach TA (Tony Alford) came in the building, he’s been on since the first day he came into the office.”
It appears Notre Dame, Alabama and Florida State are in the mix for the Texas native as well. After attending that game in September, the sheer size of the crowd at the Big House impressed Osborne. Another visit in that environment this fall for Osborne is — I would imagine — on Michigan’s to-do list.
“Definitely playing in front of 110,000 every game,” he said of what stands out about Michigan. “You know, that’s big time.”
Wiltfong wrote that Michigan “hold(s) the slightest of edges in a fluid process to date,” so it doesn’t sound like getting both Hiter and Osborne is out of the question.
Michigan among trio of visits for top uncommitted 2025 prospect
Four-star edge Zahir Mathis, the top-ranked uncommitted player in the 2025 class, has been a Michigan target since he de-committed from Ohio State in November.
He did not sign in December, so he is now set to take some visits before signing at his future school in February. Mathis told Dohn ($) Michigan is one of the three official visits he’ll be taking this month, with Michigan being his final destination from Jan 27-29. He will visit UCLA and Florida State prior to Ann Arbor.
“I have a real good connection with them,” Mathis said. “I’ve been having good conversations with them since the decommitment so everything has been going smooth.”
Holland ($) said head coach Sherrone Moore and defensive line coach Lou Esposito are leading the recruitment for the Wolverines. Mathis noted the production Michigan has gotten with that position is enticing for the Philadelphia native.
“With the edges they have there and the edges they had there, they all develop well,” Mathis said. “Each guy has high explosion, quick hands and fast feet like myself.
“I want to see a good bond between the players. I want to see how I can be evaluated with those players and break it down and make sure I’m getting playing time and make sure I’m doing the right things to get on the field.”
Michigan
Michigan’s nostalgic vintage arcade, museum locking its doors after this weekend
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI – This is one of those places which gives you all the feels.
One of Michigan’s most nostalgic spots is locking its doors this Sunday night after being located in the same spot for decades. It will soon be located elsewhere.
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum has been a destination and attraction at a strip mall on Orchard Lake at 14 Mile in Farmington Hills since 1990.
The part arcade, part museum will be demolished to make way for other developments.
Marvin’s owner, Jeremy Yagoda, said he vowed this would not be the end of what his father Marvin, who passed way in 2017, started.
After Marvin’s closes this Sunday evening, relocation will soon begin to the Orchard Mall on the NE corner of Maple and Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield.
Yagoda says it is expected to take a few months to make the move to the new building which will expand the museum from 5,300 sq. ft. to around 14,000 sq. ft.
“We will take a couple days to relax before we start the move,” Yagoda wrote on Facebook. “I do not have a date for the reopening yet as the build out will take some time. Sad to leave Farmington Hills as the whole city has been MARVELOUS, but this was the best location we found. Time to start the next chapter for MMMM.”
Marvin’s will be open on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Michigan
Zapala scores season-high 15 points as No. 18 Michigan State holds off Ohio State 69-62
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Szymon Zapala scored a season-high 15 points and No. 18 Michigan State made 8 of 10 free throws to hold off Ohio State 69-62 on Friday night for its third straight win to start Big Ten play.
Zapala fueled a 12-0 run to build a 14-point lead for the Spartans (12-2, 3-0). However, the Buckeyes rallied as John Mobley Jr. hit a 3 and Bruce Thornton followed with a jumper with 8:47 left to go up, 50-49.
Ohio State (9-5, 1-2) then committed turnovers on three straight possessions. After Thornton’s second turnover in under a minute Xavier Booker drove the length of the floor for a three-point play. Tre Holloman drilled a 3 and Booker dunked to give Michigan State a 57-50 lead. Micah Parrish hit two 3-pointers and Mobley added a third, but the Spartans finished hitting 8 of 10 from the line.
Jaden Akins was 5 for 6 from the free-throw line, hitting 3 of 4 in the final minute, to finish with 14 points for Michigan State. Coen Carr was 7 for 8 at the line and added 11 points. Jaxon Kohler grabbed 10 rebounds.
Parrish was 3 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with 13 points to lead Ohio State. Thornton finished with 10 points.
Takeaways
Michigan State was able to attack the rim consistently.
Ohio State shot 36.7% from the floor at home, hitting 22 of 60 from the field including 7 of 27 on 3s.
Key moment
After Ohio State used a 7-0 run to take a 50-49 lead, Booker turned a turnover by Thornton into a three-point play to put the Spartans back in front.
Key stat
Michigan State scored 56 of its 69 points either in the paint or from the free-throw line.
Up next
Michigan State hosts Washington on Thursday, and Ohio State plays at Minnesota on Monday.
Michigan
Michigan lands No. 3 transfer RB Haynes from Tide
Alabama transfer running back Justice Haynes has signed with Michigan, the school announced Friday.
Haynes, the No. 3 running back in ESPN’s transfer rankings, finished as Alabama’s third-leading rusher with 448 yards on 5.7 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore. He’ll have two more seasons of eligibility with the Wolverines.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound back from Buford, Georgia, started six games in his second year with the Crimson Tide after rushing for 168 yards and two scores as a freshman. Haynes was the No. 24 overall player in the ESPN 300 for 2023.
He’ll join a Michigan backfield that must replace the production of seniors Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, who combined for 1,537 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024.
Michigan does return freshman back Jordan Marshall, who rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries in the Wolverines’ 19-13 victory over Alabama in the Reliaquest Bowl on Dec. 31. Haynes did not play for either team in the bowl game.
Michigan has added eight transfer signees following its 8-5 season under first-year coach Sherrone Moore. The Wolverines are also bringing in quarterback Mikey Keene (Fresno State), wide receiver Donaven McCulley (Indiana) and offensive lineman Brady Norton (Cal Poly) to help bolster an offense that averaged 22 points per game this season, which ranks 113th in FBS.
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