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Michigan football's top five players from first three games

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•09/21/23•

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Roman Wilson
(Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football is ranked No. 2 in the nation and rolling into Big Ten play after wins over East Carolina (30-3), UNLV (35-7) and Bowling Green (31-6). Here’s a look at the top five players from the non-conference portion of the season.

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1. Junior QB J.J. McCarthy

The Wolverines’ first two games featured a leveled-up J.J. McCarthy, who’s now a first-rounder in multiple NFL mock drafts. He completed 48 of his 55 passes for 558 yards and 5 touchdowns in wins over East Carolina (30-3) and UNLV (35-7), with his 87.3 completion percentage leading the nation through two weeks.

The 6-3, 202-pounder struggled mightily in a 31-6 victory over Bowling Green Sept. 16, throwing 3 interceptions and some other questionable passes. Still, he’s been Michigan’s best overall player thus far.

2. Senior WR Roman Wilson

A touchdown machine, Roman Wilson became Michigan’s second player ever to register 6 touchdown receptions in the first three games of a season, joining Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, who had an identical number to open the 1991 campaign.

Through Week 3, Wilson and Vanderbilt’s Will Sheppard are tied atop the country with 6 scoring catches. He’s second on the team with 209 receiving yards, behind graduate Cornelius Johnson (224).

3. Graduate DB Mike Sainristil

The two-time Michigan captain has been lauded by countless teammates and coaches for his leadership and guidance for younger players at all positions, but primarily the defensive backs, many of whom are under his wing. Mike Sainristil has held down the fort in the secondary, with sophomore cornerback Will Johnson, senior safety Makari Paige and junior safety Rod Moore, who has yet to appear in a game, missing significant time.

Sainristil had the Wolverines’ first interception of the season in the opener and added 9 tackles, 2 stops for loss, 1 sack and 1 pass breakup, playing both nickel and corner.

4. Senior RB Blake Corum

The 5-8, 213-pounder hasn’t put up gaudy numbers by his standards, but he’s been productive in non-conference play, shaking off the rust after recovering from a knee injury suffered at the end of the 2022 campaign. Blake Corum ranks tied second in the nation with 6 rushing touchdowns and now has 37 for his career, checking in sixth in Michigan history.

The Marshall, Va., native has rushed 37 times for 254 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. For comparison, Corum had fewer rushing yards (235) in three non-conference outings last season, when he finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. Corum broke out for a 101-yard rushing night against Bowling Green, marking his 13th career 100-plus yard game.

5. Senior EDGE Jaylen Harrell

Constant activity and relentless pursuit have defined Jaylen Harrell’s impressive start to Michigan’s season. Through three weeks, he’s tied second in the Big Ten with 2.5 sacks, forced a fumble that was recovered by the Wolverines against Bowling Green and got pressure to help cause an interception by senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins in the same game (Jenkins has also been great, an honorable mention along with sophomore positionmates Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham). Harrell has totaled 9 tackles.

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