The 'unique' Michigan player that could replace nickel back Mike Sainristil: 'He's got a lot of those traits'

One of the toughest tasks for the Michigan Wolverines football defense this season is to replace nickel back Mike Sainristil, a converted wide receiver who moved over to the secondary and shined over the last two seasons.

A projected top-100 NFL Draft pick, Sainristil led the defensive backfield and ranked fourth on the team with 44 tackles, including 5 behind the line of scrimmage. He also excelled in coverage, leading the group with 6 interceptions — the most by a Michigan defender since cornerback Blake Countess posted an identical number in 2013.

Some Sainristil stories are the stuff of legend — an epic speech on the sideline in the second half of a 45-23 win over Ohio State in 2022 being one of them.

New Michigan defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator LaMar Morgan just arrived on campus in February and has been impressed with Sainristil both on film and from getting to know him as the defender prepares for the draft. Over time, Morgan has realized just how big the shoes are that the next starting nickel back will have to fill.

“I love Mike, man,” Morgan said. “Mike asked me a couple times out here, he was getting ready for the combine and all that stuff, and he got back from the combine. He caught me at a bad time — it was right before practice — but he wanted to get indy drills. I didn’t even coach him last year. That’s how Mike is.

“It’s going to be hard [to replace him]. Mike is a leader. Mike was a leader of the defense last year, especially in the secondary.”

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The name that the Michigan assistant mentioned as a potential replacement for Sainristil was junior Zeke Berry, a safety by trade who’s played nickel this spring. The 5-foot-11, 192-pounder played in 11 games last season, totaling only 42 defensive snaps, but could have a role this year.

“I think a guy that’s really stepped up is Zeke Berry,” Morgan said. “I think Zeke Berry is going to be a unique player for us this year. He’s still young and we still gotta develop him, but he’s got a lot of those traits.

“The one thing that Mike did, Mike was never in a bad position — ever. You think he’s out of phase, he turns his head around, it’s an interception. Every time I watched TV, I’m like, ‘Who is Mike?’ when I got here. And I saw him walk in, it was unbelievable. He’s just a really good athlete. So with the ball skills and all that, that’s going to be hard to replace.

“But I think Zeke has done a really good job of being a guy that we can move around in different spots, and hopefully he has a really good end of spring and do a really good job in the fall.”

Michigan searching for starting cornerback

Junior Will Johnson is cemented as a starter, after earning All-America honors last season. But there’s a vacancy on the opposite side of the field, and several candidates to take control of the job. Morgan said sophomores Jyaire Hill and DJ Waller Jr., along with graduate Keshaun Harris, have played good football.

“All the corners are doing a good job now,” Morgan stated. “You got ‘Sug’ Hill. He’s doing a good job. DJ Waller, Harris.

“Just been trying to throw a lot of guys with the 1s and 2s and just rolling reps. That’s kinda what I believe in. You can’t tell guys they’re going to get an opportunity and then never give them reps. We try to get the guys as many reps as we can, try to have a big sample of what these guys have done all spring. And once it gets down to fall camp, summer and all that, then we can make a judgement of who we’re going to play out there on Saturdays.”

Michigan senior Ja’Den McBurrows is another who’s playing multiple spots, at nickel and cornerback. He totaled 2 tackles for loss and an interception a year ago.

Morgan gave McBurrows a mention when discussing Michigan defensive backs that will step up in the absence of senior safety Rod Moore, who went down with an injury that will require surgery.

“[Graduate safety] Makari [Paige] is going to step up. I know y’all talk to Makari sometimes, he’s a quiet guy, but Makari is going to step up and he’s going to do a great job. I’m excited about him. And you got Q [graduate safety Quinten Johnson] back. You got B-Hill [sophomore safety Brandyn Hillman], you got Zeke Berry. You got J-Mac playing some nickel and playing corner.

“I think there are some guys in that room that are young players that are ready to go, or they had a role that was a reserve — they played 30, 40 snaps a game and now they have to step it up. That’s something that’s on my plate, that I gotta make sure these guys are ready to represent the university when they get their opportunity this season.”

Added the Michigan coach: “There’s really no depth chart right now. There are a couple guys that are cemented as starters — y’all know, a couple guys. But those guys that we’re talking about, like Will Johnson, he works like he’s trying to earn a spot every single day. That’s where we’re at, always evaluating. We’re going to make sure we put the best combination on the field, whatever that is.”