Michigan State recruiting update: Progress reports for in-state targets
Michigan State acting head coach Harlon Barnett is a home-grown kind of guy when it comes to recruiting. On Thursday’s radio show, Barnett emphasized his preferred recruiting strategy, which involves each assistant coach being assigned multiple recruiting areas across the country.
This method of recruiting allows assistants to build relationships with the high school coaches in their areas.
Barnett also mentioned the importance of the “five-hour radius” that was emphasized when he was an assistant under Mark Dantonio for 11 seasons. This philosophy prioritzes players within five hours from campus, which includes areas in Michigan and Ohio, among other states.
With Barnett now at the helm, let’s take a look at the progress of multiple in-state recruits, all of whom fall within the “five-hour radius.”
2026 OT Khalief Canty, Jr. – Detroit Cass Tech
Offers: Michigan State, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisville, Auburn, Kansas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Charlotte, Marshall, Akron, UMass
Canty was one of the first prospects to receive a Michigan State offer last July, before his freshman season at Cass Tech. He has remained close with Spartan offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic, visiting campus twice in the past year. Canty has no plans of visiting any school anytime soon, though, as he is focused on his high school season.
Canty has as big a frame as anyone from the 2026 class. He uses his hands very well and has been tested multiple times this season, lining up against other Power Five prospects from the state.
2026 WR Corey ‘CJ’ Sadler – Detroit Cass Tech
Offers: Michigan State, Michigan, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Penn State, Colorado, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Auburn, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Kansas, USF, Akron
Sadler has been the best player on the field both times I’ve seen him this season, and he’s just a sophomore in high school. He lines up all over the field for Cass Tech, playing wide receiver, quarterback, cornerback and kick/punt returner. Like his teammate Canty, Sadler doesn’t have any visit plans in the near future. He did mention that he hopes to see a big year from Michigan State this year. He spoke fondly of Spartan wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins as well.
2026 DB Marcello Vitti – Dearborn Divine Child
Offers: Michigan State, Michigan, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Auburn, Penn State, Tennessee, Arkansas, Minnesota, Kansas, West Virginia, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Akron, Toledo
Vitti is a ball hawk that has good lateral movement and isn’t afraid of contact. He plays bigger than he really is, but has grown a lot lately. His dad, Nikolai Vitti, played football at Wake Forest and his brother, Lorenzo Vitti, currently plays at Navy.
Vitti visited East Lansing for the season-opener against Central Michigan. He visited Kentucky last weekend and received an offer from the Wildcats. He’ll be at Wisconsin Saturday as well. He has plans to visit Penn State, Auburn, Tennessee and Michigan, as well as Michigan State for a return trip. He described Barnett as “his guy.”
2026 OT Ben Nichols – Davison
Offers: Michigan State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Saginaw Valley
Nichols has some of the best footwork of anyone in the 2026 class. His head coach compared him to Jake Long and he has been a unit so far, especially in pass protection. Nichols doesn’t have a lot of offers yet, but he should see an uptick if he continues to have a productive season. Kapilovic did a good job getting in early on Nichols. Nichols will be at Michigan State Saturday for the Washington game.
2026 OT Gregory Patrick – Portage Northern
Offers: Michigan State, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Toledo, Miami (OH), Central Michigan, Western Michigan
Patrick was at Michigan State’s prospect camp in June. He is a Spartan legacy recruit and his teammate, Jadyn Walker, was just offered by Michigan State last week. He committed on the spot.
Patrick has a little bit of a smaller frame than Canty and Nichols, but he makes up for it with his athleticism. Patrick was in East Lansing for the home opener against Central Michigan.
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