In-state 2026 DB target Marcello Vitti talks Michigan offer, conversations with Steve Clinkscale

It’s been a few years since a top rated football recruit from Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Child was offered and eventually signed with Michigan. Not when former All-American edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson roamed the halls of the Metro Detroit high school, before staying home to play for the Wolverines, has there been a student whose trajectory is being compared to the Detroit Lions first-round draft pick.

That is until 2026 athlete Marcello Vitti, who announced on social media Saturday of his earned offer from Michigan co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale. The Wolverines are the second Big Ten program to enter the mix early for Vitti following Maryland. Two MAC teams in Akron and Central Michigan have also offered.

“It’s exciting right now and I feel good about it,” Vitti told The Wolverine. “It’s Michigan. Obviously, it means a lot. The best guys in Michigan get offers from Michigan so it means something. It’ll point me in the right direction. I know that I worked hard for this and it’s paying off.”

Vitti is prone to hearing from people at Divine Child about Hutchinson’s career at the school and how his career turned out the way it did. Numerous stories about the latter, exchanging messages with Hutchinson one time and his own sentiment about only the best in the state get the opportunity to wear the winged helmet has made the offer even more memorable for Vitti.

After three unofficial visits to Ann Arbor going back to mid-November of last year, including an appearance for Michigan’s Junior Day event two months ago and as recent as this past Saturday, Vitti would call Clinkscale, who said that film evaluations and their time meeting on campus in January was what resulted in an offer being issued.

“(Clinkscale is) an enthusiastic guy and he knows what he’s talking about,” Vitti said. “He’s not scared to yell at you (laughs). He said that I’m aggressive, I can hit, I come upfield fast, my 4.55 (40) speed and he watched the film. The film doesn’t lie.”

It was while getting a detailed glimpse of Michigan behind the scenes on the Junior Day visit when Vitti saw the development made on past and current roster players by the on-field coaches and strength and conditioning coaches. Part of the visit was sitting down and listening to Ben Herbert comparing photos of players statures when they started with the program to when they were soon to leave with Hutchinson being one of the examples.

“The strength coach (Herbert) and the entire coaching staff knows what they’re talking about,” Vitti said. “They’re experienced. From Coach Clink to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh, those guys are great. So is their defensive scheme. (Their defensive backs) are big, fast and aggressive.”

Vitti currently competes on the 7v7 circuit with SoundMind SoundBody, a year-round training and recruiting expose academy based in Detroit. The organization holds a close relationship with Michigan personnel with many of its former members committing to the Wolverines. One of Vitti’s close confidants on SMSB is Detroit King athlete Xavier Newsom, who was offered by Michigan this past January.

“I’m friends with Xavier so we’ve talked about Michigan sometimes,” Vitti said. “We joke around (teaming up). SoundMind SoundBody has talent everywhere. Obviously, Will Johnson and Semaj Morgan play at Michigan and (soon) Jacob Oden.”

A return back to Ann Arbor, according to Vitti, is expected to take place early in the summer in order to workout in front of Clinkscale during one of Michigan’s hosted team camps. The remainder of the spring will see the 5-foot-11 and 175-pounder visit Northwestern, Penn State, West Virginia, Toledo and Western Michigan.

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