Skip to main content
michigan logo

Newsstand: Charles Woodson says Mike Sainristil is 'one of my favorite all time Michigan players'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•about 9 hours•

CSayf23

The Wolverine Daily Newsstand Sponsor Thumbnail

Tweets Of The Day

Former Michigan Heisman Trophy winner and current FOX analyst Charles Woodson was asked about former U-M defensive back and Washington Commanders corner Mike Sainristil and his standout rookie season.

“Love Mike, man,” Woodson said. “He’s up at the top of my top players to ever play at the University of Michigan. What he did this year is what he did at Michigan. Will Johnson went down a couple of times, what did he have to do? He had to go out and guard one of the best wide receivers on the outside. Great in the slot, but you know what? If you need me coach to go out there, I’ll do it. He did the same thing this year. Went out there, he had to guard guys on the outside, and all he did was go out there and make plays. Two huge interceptions against the Detroit Lions. Just one of my favorite all time Michigan players for sure.”

Michigan basketball will face a lame duck coach Saturday in Bloomington, with Indiana announcing Friday that Mike Woodson will retire at season’s end. The Wolverines and Hoosiers tip off at 1 p.m. ET on CBS from the Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall.

Here’s the statement from athletic director Scott Dolson:

During a meeting with Coach Woodson on Wednesday, he informed me he wanted to step down as our program’s head coach at the end of the current season. He said it had been weighing on his mind for a while, and that it was an emotional and difficult decision. We have had subsequent thoughtful conversations about his decision and his desire to ensure that the program is in the best position it can be moving forward. At an appropriate time, Coach Woodson will articulate his feelings about his decision and his experiences these last four years.   It’s clear to me from our discussions in the last several days that his No. 1 priority is for the attention to be off him, and instead focused on uniting Hoosier Nation in support of our student-athletes, coaches, and, most importantly, the program.

We still have much to play for this season as we prepare for Saturday’s game against Michigan and the remainder of the 2024-25 season, and we want to encourage Hoosier fans to rally around the program and support it in the same positive way that Hoosier fans did during Mike’s All-America and Big Ten MVP playing career.

Coach Woodson is a class act. During the last four years, he has led the program during a transformational time in college athletics and helped us become a national leader in evolving areas including NIL and the Transfer Portal. No one loves IU Basketball more than he does. I want to thank him for coming back to Bloomington and accepting the challenge of rebuilding our program and re-connecting it with its past and its foundation. In pursuit of that goal, it was important to him that he bring back other legendary Hoosier players such as Calbert Cheaney, Randy Wittman, and Jordan Hulls, all of whom share his love and passion for this program. That’s a group of individuals that combined for 375 wins at IU, seven Big Ten championships, two Final Fours, and a national title.   With this decision made, Coach Woodson and I share the desire to see Hoosier Nation unite beginning on Saturday afternoon in support of these players, coaches, and program.

Carmel (Ill.) Catholic 2027 quarterback Trae Taylor shows a photo of him as a kid outside Michigan Stadium, displaying that he’s been on campus more times than just what’s been reported during his recruitment. Last month, the Wolverine staff visited Taylor.

Michigan lacrosse picked up a 13-5 win over Jacksonville.

Quote Of The Day

“I noticed before that things had gone kind of slow in recruiting for Michigan standards. They beat Ohio State, and things really picked up in December, and that’s when I saw all the changes.”

— Recruiting expert Tom Lemming on Michigan’s recruiting efforts at the end of the 2025 cycle

Headlines Of The Day

• Ethan McDowell, The Wolverine: Recruiting expert Tom Lemming shares his take on Michigan’s 2025 class
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Indiana writer discusses Mike Woodson, Dusty May, the Hoosiers’ struggles, Assembly Hall environment
• Chris Balas and Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: INSIDE THE FORT: Michigan pre-spring football intel (OL and more), QB battle, spring portal needs
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Texas State K transfer Beckham Sunderland commits to Michigan football
• Anthony Broome, The Wolverine: Dusty May is going back to Indiana to ‘win a freaking basketball game’ and nothing more

You may also like