Wolverine TV: Mike Sainristil, Michael Barrett talk Michigan football before MSU game
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil and graduate linebacker Michael Barrett met with the media Tuesday evening after practice ahead of their team’s game against the Michigan State Spartans. Watch video of Sainristil in the player at the top of the screen and Barrett in the embed below.
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Barrett’s 91.7 PFF grade from Michigan’s 52-7 win over Indiana Saturday made him the country’s highest graded linebacker of Week 7. Barrett was asked to think back to a few years ago when he was playing the Wolverines’ ‘viper’ position and to reflect on how far he’s come.
“It’s dope, man. Just watching my own road at the position, it feels good to get that recognition. Just seeing where I’ve come from, man, it’s been a long way from quarterback days [in high school] to being one of the top linebackers in the country. It feels good to be able to see getting that recognition, for sure.”
Barrett discussed how first-year position coach Chris Partridge, who recruited Barrett to Michigan before leaving to coordinate the Ole Miss defense, has helped him take the next step in his game in his sixth season.
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“I feel like he just helps me, just that final transition to linebacker, just to slow my feet down, see things a lot clearer. I think I saw things faster … being a quarterback, I could kind of see things going too fast, moving too fast. He’s helped me slow down, using my hands, just techniques of getting off of blocks, things like that. He’s helped me play more in the box better.”
Sainristil was asked what defines the Michigan vs. MSU rivalry to him.
“Grit,” he replied. “I think that game is — or, this game — is a game of the team is going to go out there and be the grittiest, and ultimately the team that’s going to do what it takes to come out victorious at the end.”
The captain was also asked if this in-state series feels different than the Wolverines’ biggest rivalry game, an annual clash against Ohio State.
“Other than the fact that it’s in state, it’s really just … we’re treating it just like another football game,” he said.
