Mike Sainristil molding into Swiss Army Knife for Michigan’s defense
Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil drops back in coverage during a play in the second quarter of the Big Ten Championship Game against Purdue Saturday December 3, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Wolverines’ senior defensive back is one of the most versatile defenders in the country, and he’s preparing to unleash his talents in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Mike Sainristil is the ideal student-athlete, who carries himself with class off the field, but is an animal on the gridiron. There’s no denying he’s a general in Michigan’s secondary, and is a vital piece of a unit that’s No. 2 nationally in total defense. It’s rare in today’s game to find a defensive back that’s a staple against the run, and a ballhawk out in coverage.
However, Sainristil has all of those qualities, and he’s very physical for his 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame. The former three-star prospect is having a stellar campaign this fall too, in which he earned first-team, All-Big Ten honors earlier this week.
After all, Sainristil has generated 28 tackles, including three for loss and a sack. His vision and natural instincts are second to none, which why he has four interceptions this season. Not to mention Sainristil returned an interception for a touchdown against Rutgers and Michigan State. He has the speed to blanket nearly half of a field. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Sainristil is always making plays around the ball.
The hit he put on Ohio State’s running back TreVeyon Henderson in last week’s victory was so powerful that it rocked the Big House. Sainristil has a ton of momentum, and is looking forward to the battle against Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium. He wanted to play against former teammates Cade McNamara and Erik All, but they’re out for the season with injuries. The anticipation is still through the roof for this matchup, and Sainristil wants to represent for the Wolverines.
“Definitely excited to take advantage of this opportunity we have in front of us in the rematch against Iowa for the Big Ten Championship,” Sainristil said. “Unfortunately, we don’t get to play against our former teammates Cade and Erik.”
Sainristil spoke to Erik earlier in the week, so there’s no love lost. It’s going to be a special reunion in Sainristil’s eyes, having his former teammates in the building, and Coach Jim Harbaugh back on the sidelines after serving a three-game suspension. The entire team is rallying behind Harbaugh, and want to play well for him on the league’s biggest stage.
“It’s a great position to be in with Coach Harbaugh coming back, we’re all fired up and ready to go,” he said. “We’re obviously excited for a great week of preparation heading into Saturday.”
Although the Hawkeyes have the worst offense statistically in the FBS, they still have Sainristil’s full attention, and he’s not taking them lightly. Regardless of the fact that Michigan is heavy favorites over Iowa (10-2), Sainristil understands that games aren’t played on paper. The Massachusetts native is expecting the unexpected, and for the Hawkeyes to have a few wrinkles in their playbook.
“They’ll probably come out running the ball, and try to take control over the line of scrimmage early on in the game to potentially set up play-action and move passes” the 23-year old said. “So I’m looking forward to the game plan that we have for them.”
Michigan (12-0) has won the last three meetings against Iowa, including the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game. Sainristil wants to keep the narrative the same this time around too. The No. 2 Wolverines will rely on him to set the tone in the secondary, and Sainristil expects the rest of the defense to build off his energy.
The spotlight is going to be on the Wolverines, so Sainristil wants to show his great character, as well as his skill set. His teammates trust him because he’s a selfless person, and he’s hoping that translates to success on the field Saturday night.
