ANN ARBOR, MI – Position changes in college football are common when a player is not producing.
That was not the case at Michigan with Mike Sainristil.
He was a key target in his third season at wide receiver in 2021, and his highlight-worthy catches appeared to set him up for a bright future on offense with the Wolverines.
Last spring, Jim Harbaugh had another idea, suggesting that Sainristil switch to defensive back.
“He saw something in me that maybe I didn’t see in myself at the time,” Sainristil recently recalled in an interview. “My mindset was prove him right, prove myself right and take advantage of the opportunity.”
He has done just that, emerging as a key contributor in the secondary last season and arguably the best player on a top-ranked defense this season.
In his third straight College Football Playoff appearance, the AP All-Big Ten cornerback is about to face a difficult test.
Michigan, whose season was marred by a sign-stealing scandal that resulted in the Big Ten Conference suspending Harbaugh for three games, faces Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day for a shot at the national championship.
“With everything that has been said this year about this program, about this team, about the success we’ve had,” he said, “what better opportunity to have against a team like Alabama to go be able to prove who we are.”
Since being benched in Week 2 against South Florida, Jalen Milroe has led the Crimson Tide’s resurgent passing game.
The dynamic quarterback has seven touchdown passes without an interception over the last three games, including some clutch passes against Georgia in the SEC championship game and a remarkable fourth-and-goal completion to Isaiah Bonds for a touchdown to beat Auburn.
Jermaine Burton, a former Georgia receiver, is Alabama’s big-play threat, averaging 22.2 yards on 35 catches with eight touchdowns. Bond has 44 receptions for 621 yards and four touchdowns.
The Wolverines allowed 9.5 points per game, led college football with five defensive touchdowns, and ranked second in passing defense with 152.6 yards per game.
Sainristil played a significant role in this.
He had five interceptions, two more than any other teammate, and returned two of them for touchdowns. He also had 30 tackles, three for a loss, and a sack.
“He checks all the boxes,” defensive back Josh Wallace of Michigan said. “He plays both inside and outside. He can cover for anyone. He’s just a great physical guy who isn’t afraid of physical contact.”
The 5-foot-10, 182-pound Sainristil compensates for his lack of size with plenty of fight, and his off-the-field intangibles are also valuable when NFL teams evaluate prospects. Sainristil frequently smiles, grateful for a life that would have been very different if his family had not fled Haiti and raised him in the Boston area.
On the field, he resembles a smaller version of Detroit Lions defensive back and former Alabama star Brian Branch, thanks to his coverage and run-support abilities.
“Some coach is going to say he’s an ideal nickel for what we do, and they’re going to take him on Day 2,” NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic predicted. “Scouts describe him as a player-coach, an influencer, and a leader, and those buzzwords will propel him higher on some draft boards.”
“With his toughness, you would never guess he’s a former receiver.”
