Jim Harbaugh: Michigan WR/DB Mike Sainristil on track to be 'three-way player' this fall

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football senior Mike Sainristil‘s transition to the defensive side of the ball began with a series of phone calls by coach Jim Harbaugh. The head man dialed up Sainristil, co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale and others, sharing his revelation that Sainristil, a 5-10, 185-pounder, has the potential to be a high-level defensive back on top of his duties at wide receiver and on special teams.

It took off from there, and Sainristil was impressive during Michigan’s 15 spring practices, culminating with some nice plays in the spring game. He broke up a well-thrown deep ball from senior quarterback Cade McNamara intended for sophomore wideout Andrel Anthony, then plays later was lining up on offense himself, looking like a natural on each side of the ball.

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At the Ferris State Sound Mind Sound Body Michigan Showcase in Big Rapids Thursday, Harbaugh was asked if he thinks Sainristil will stick on defense. His response was emphatic.

“I know he’s going to stick on defense, because we just went through a spring practice where he not only stuck, but he really stood out,” Harbaugh said.

“He was starting at nickel when the spring ended. Now he’s going to get some competition from [sophomore] Rod Moore, who wasn’t in spring. Yeah, he’s going to play. He can play nickel; he can play corner.

“And then when we brought him back to receiver, it didn’t look like he missed any kind of beat there as well. He’s definitely on track to be a two- [or] three-way player. He’s going to play special teams, as well.

“Super exciting. He’s putting a lot of really good tools in his toolbox, and the more really good tools he has in the toolbox, the more valuable the toolbox is. It’s all A-plus-plus for Mike Sainristil right now.”

As Harbaugh mentioned, Moore missed spring practices with an injury. He’s expected to be 100 percent for fall camp, and there’s a great chance both he and Sainristil receive significant playing time in the defensive backfield. Moore started Michigan’s 2021 season as a backup at nickel but found a home at safety, starting three of the final five games.

Sainristil has already established himself at the wide receiver position, having caught 22 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns last year, so he spent more time with the Michigan defense this past spring.

“Percentage-wise, it was definitely more defense per reps, per plays, per meeting times,” Harbaugh explained. “That was only natural because that was was the new position, on defense.

“The cool thing was, he was taking his offensive knowledge and able to apply that as a secondary defender. As a corner, as a nickel, he knows what the receiver is trying to get done and how he’s having to do it, how that offensive player is trying to attack. Now, he’s using the tools that he knows how a defensive player uses to try to defend as an offensive player.

“His growth as a football player overall has really exponentially grown.”

The Michigan coach pointed out that if playing offense and defense can improve a player’s ability on each side of the ball, it might be worth trying it with more guys. But he explained that Sainristil has a trio of unique skills that make him a perfect fit for the role.

“A good question would be, why don’t you do that with every player?” Harbaugh said with a smile. “But it really takes three things for a guy to be able to be a two-way player. One, they’ve got to have the skillset to do it. The second thing is you have to be smart. You have to be smart to be able to learn two different playbooks. And you’ve got to be willing.

“That doesn’t line up with every single player, but it does with Mike Sainristil.”

Harbaugh has become famous for using players on offense and defense, with one of the first and most notable examples being Owen Maricic — one of the coach’s all-time favorite players — who starred as a fullback and linebacker at Stanford. At Michigan, Jabrill Peppers played linebacker, safety and a host of positions on offense, and Ben Mason saw time at both fullback and defensive line.