ANN ARBOR, Michigan: In college football, position changes frequently take place when a player isn’t performing well.
At Michigan, Mike Sainristil was an exception to that rule.
He was a major target in his third season as a wide receiver in 2021, and his spectacular catches appeared to have prepared him for a successful offensive future with the Wolverines.
When spring football rolled around last year, Jim Harbaugh had another idea: he suggested Sainristil move to defensive back.
“In a recent interview, Sainristil recalled something that maybe I didn’t see in myself at the time.” “My attitude was to take advantage of the opportunity, prove myself right, and prove him right.”
He succeeded in doing so, emerging as a vital member of the secondary last season and possibly leading a highly regarded defense this one.
For the third time in his career, the AP All-Big Ten cornerback is set to take on a challenging task in the College Football Playoffs.
Michigan takes on Alabama at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in an attempt to win the national championship. Michigan’s season was marred by a sign-stealing scandal that resulted in a three-game suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh by the Big Ten Conference.
“What better opportunity to have against a team like Alabama to go be able to prove who we are, especially with everything that has been said this year about this program, about this team, and about the success we’ve had,” Sainristil said.
The Crimson Tide’s passing game has improved under Jalen Milroe’s leadership since he was benched against South Florida in Week 2.
The explosive quarterback has completed seven touchdown passes without a pick in the last three games. He also had some pivotal passes against Georgia in the SEC title game, as well as an incredible completion to Isaiah Bonds on fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line to defeat Auburn.
Jermaine Burton, a former Georgia receiver who averages 22.2 yards on 35 catches and eight touchdowns, is Alabama’s big-play threat. Bond has four touchdowns and 621 yards on 44 catches.
The Wolverines led college football with five defensive touchdowns, gave up 152.6 yards passing per game to rank second, and gave up an FBS-low 9.5 points.
A large part of that was due to Sainristil.
He returned two picks for touchdowns and made five interceptions, two more than any teammate. In addition, he had 30 tackles, three of which were for losses, and one sack.
Josh Wallace, a defensive back for Michigan, said, “He checks all the boxes.” “He plays indoors and outdoors. He is able to cover anyone. He’s simply a fantastic physical guy who doesn’t mind making contact.
When teams are evaluating prospects for the NFL draft, the 5-foot-10, 182-pound Sainristil’s off-the-field intangibles are an asset. He makes up for his lack of size with plenty of fight. Thankful for a life that would have been very different if his family hadn’t fled Haiti and raised him in the Boston area, Sainristil smiles a lot.
His run-support and coverage abilities on the field make him resemble a scaled-down version of former Alabama standout and defensive back Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions.
NFL draft analyst for The Athletic Dane Brugler predicted that a coach would declare a player the perfect nickel for their scheme and that team would select him on the second round. Scouts describe him as a leader, an influencer, and a player-coach; those catchphrases will help him rise higher on certain lists.
“You would never guess he was a former receiver with his toughness.”
