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Michigan football spring roster: A position switch, crowded receiver room

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•02/26/22•

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and his team just completed week one of spring ball. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

Michigan released its spring roster, and there weren’t a lot of surprises. But there are a few noteworthy moves, weight gains, etc. Here’s what we’ve picked up … 

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As reported last week, Donovan Jeter has moved on. He hadn’t been going through offseason stuff with his team, and it would have been a sixth year. 

The one position switch made official on the roster — Eamon Dennis from defensive back to wide receiver. The third year player can really run, but that adds to a very crowded receiver room. Three freshmen receivers joined the team midyear (Tyler Morris, Darrius Clemons and Amorion Walker — the “freak show,” as head coach Jim Harbaugh calls it given how talented they are) — something’s gotta give here …

And it has. Though he’s still officially listed as a wide receiver, we’ve confirmed Mike Sainristil is, indeed, working with the nickel backs. Time will tell if he plays both ways, but he’s definitely adding to the depth in the secondary — at least for now. 

We also expect third-year wideout A.J. Henning to get a lot of touches out of the backfield from the running back position this spring, though he’s still listed as a receiver.

We’ll see if there’s any other movement here after spring ball. 

Finally, a familiar name has joined the roster. Paul Jokisch, who we believe is the son of the receiver of the same name in the mid-80s (played at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh), has been enrolled in school since 2020. 

Jokisch is an outside linebacker/defensive end out of Birmingham (Mich.) Seaholm. He’ll join the squad as a walk-on. 

Michigan weight room gains not yet released

Harbaugh lauded his Michigan players’ work in the weight room this offseason. At this point, however, no updated heights and weights have been given. We expect those either at the end of spring ball or heading into the fall. 

Michigan entered spring ball also enters spring with a number of changes on the coaching staff. Jesse Minter is the new defensive coordinator, having come from Vanderbilt. He replaces Mike Macdonald (Baltimore Ravens). Secondary coach Steve Clinkscale is now co-D.C., while quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss joins offensive line coach Sherrone Moore as co-offensive coordinator. 

Former Michigan player Grant Newsome moves from graduate assistant to tight ends, while Jay Harbaugh moves from tight ends to safeties. He’ll also continue to work with the special teams.

Mike Elston is recruiting coordinator in addition to coaching defensive line, having come to U-M from Notre Dame.

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