Jim Harbaugh on Mike Sainristil: 'They just don't come any better'

From the beaches of Haiti to college football’s grandest stage, Mike Sainristil’s journey as a football player and person is one that Jim Harbaugh loves to tell.

Sainristil was recently named an All-American cornerback for the 2023 season by ESPN and Fox News, his fifth with Michigan after once coming in as a wide receiver. But through fives years of slow and gradual development, Sainristil is now the starring member of a defense he helped build into the best in the country.

When asked about his super-senior cornerback, Jim Harbaugh could hardly contain his praise for Sainristil and exploded with compliments.

“That’s another one. You know, they just don’t come any better. Leader. Just a phenomenal human being. You know, soon to be a father,” said Harbaugh, then noting how far back his connection with Mike Sainristil goes. “Somebody that you recruit, you know, sophomore, junior year of high school and then you get to coach for four years.

For Harbaugh, the real testament to Sainristil’s character as a football player is the respect he garners from his peers and coaches. “Just the respect that his teammates have for him; loved by the coaches, loved by his teammates.”

Obviously, the talent on the field is undeniable as well.

“Playmaker, difference-maker,” added Harbaugh. “I bet if you checked the NFL Draft, he is rising to the highs, you know, first round type of guy, All-American. You know, again, just a great guy, down to Earth, great guy, and heck of a football player.”

Per Jim Harbaugh, Mike Sainristil is shining like a star at the college level and with an even brighter future ahead in the NFL.

Before coming to Michigan, Sainristil experienced a rather fascinating early childhood. He was actually born in Haiti’s largest city, Port-au-Prince, where his father, Carlot, was a newsroom director at a local radio station, according to an AP story.

But shortly after Mike was born, the station began to receive threats over the nation’s 2000 election, eventually forcing the family to move to the United States, where Mike Sainristil was afforded the opportunity to play football.

Now, in five years with the Wolverines, Sainristil has 94 total tackles, 30 this season, along with FIVE interceptions alone in 2023, two of which went for pick-sixes. His yards worth of interception returns would rank seventh on the Michigan offense in receiving yards, if that makes sense. Just a ridiculous season put on by the star UM corner.