Mike Sainristil’s role in bringing former teammate Josaiah Stewart to U-M, and his NFL dreams for both

Michigan hit the transfer portal hard this year to supplement its 2023 recruiting haul, bringing in several players who should compete for playing time … or, in some instances, starting spots. One of them, former Coastal Carolina edge Josaiah Stewart, is relentless at getting to the passer, having notched 16 sacks in 2 seasons. 

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Stewart got home 12.5 times alone as a true freshman, opening eyes with his burst off the edge. When it became clear the former Everett (Mass.) standout, a former teammate of Michigan captain and defensive back Mike Sainristil, was headed to the portal, Sainristil didn’t hesitate to let head coach Jim Harbaugh know about him.

“We were talking and stuff. I knew he was entering the portal when he did,” Sainristil said in describing his role in bringing Stewart to U-M. “As soon as he did, I told coach, ‘There’s a teammate of mine I played with in high school, a really good athlete. A really good guy. I think he’d fit in the program very well.’

“Coach watched his film … he loved it. I told him he had 12 sacks his freshman year.  As soon as I said that he was like, ‘whoa.’ Twelve sacks … I don’t care where you have 12 sacks. Twelve sacks is 12 sacks. I told him, ‘Come here, come do that … come win the championship and go get paid in the NFL.”

Which is exactly Sainristil’s mission, too. Moving from wide receiver to defensive back turned out to be an outstanding move both for the team and for Sainristil, who got better all year and came up with huge plays in the secondary at Ohio State. Two of his pass break-ups saved touchdowns, and he’s still learning. 

That’s one of the reasons he’s already announced his return for next year. Learning from coach Steve Clinkscale has helped him grow immensely, but he knows he still has more to absorb. 

“I feel like my whole decision of coming back was just … it’s my first year playing defense, and I understood that very well,” Sainristil said. “I knew that leaving this year probably wouldn’t benefit me the most. I just told myself, ‘Finish the year in a strong way, come back, potentially be a top nickel coming back next year.’ I’ll already be on the radar instead of going and putting my name in the draft this year with guys that teams want him, teams want him. 

“Why not come back and have a team want you right away, or be on their radar right away? I just pretty much doubled down on myself. I know my coaches will help me.”

He’d have played center if Harbaugh has asked him to, Sainristil said, one of the traits that makes him an elite captain. He moved quickly when Stewart told him he was interested, and that made the difference. 

Stewart was the 2022 Preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt selection. He finished the season with 36 tackles, 10.0 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and 5 quarterback hurries.

In two years, he’s notched 79 tackles, 25.5 tackles for a loss, 16.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a pass break-up in 25 games.

“He’s two years younger than me. Honestly, it was after I left [that he blew up],” Sainristil reported. “He kind of grew into like this … he just grew. He got a lot stronger. He’s gotten so much bigger by the time I came back to visit him after high school. We all knew he was going to be … 

“He started to get offers his junior and senior year. We knew he was going to be special. He showcased that his freshman year.”

And he’ll get a chance to do even more at Michigan. Sainristil expects both to make huge strides and end up in the NFL, acknowledging his own best chance is probably on defense. 

“I’m glad he’s joining us,” Sainristil said. “This is where he should be.”