ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Mike Sainristil already knows what it’s like to play wide receiver for the Michigan football team. For his first three years in Ann Arbor, it’s been his forte, along with special teams. But in 2022, he’s made something of a switch to the defensive side of the ball, playing cornerback.
While Sainristil might still play on offense, that he’s spent the bulk of fall camp on defense has given him a bit of a different perspective of his original position, meaning he can share some insight on what it’s like to go up against the offensive skill players as a defensive back.
On Tuesday, we asked Sainristil who’s the toughest to defend, and while he named all the usual suspects, he did mention one obscure player on the roster.
“Roman runs was really fast. Ronnie’s really detailed with his routes, and he’s been looking really sharp since he’s been back off his injury,” Sainristil said. “Peyton O’Leary is one that’s coming up right now. Walk on guy, but I don’t even look at him that way. I think he’s right up there with anybody who’s on scholarship, he’s doing really well right now. Cornelius, Andrel, A.J. — everyone looks really good right now. So that’s a good thing for them. And it’s great for us as DBs, there’s a level of competition we need to help us get to where we want to be.”
Peyton O’Leary is a second-year player who appeared in one game in 2021. At 6-foot-3, 195-pounds, the Byfield (Mass.) Governor’s Academy walk-on already has some size that’s prototypical of a player at his position.
Sainristil isn’t the only player who mentioned O’Leary standing out in fall camp. Two weeks ago, we asked Ronnie Bell which receiver will surprise fans the most, expecting to hear a name like Andrel Anthony or Darrius Clemons. Nope — it was O’Leary who got the nod from the standout fifth-year receiver.
”I wouldn’t be surprised if the receiver that surprises people this year is Peyton O’Leary,” Bell said. “Because he has had one hell of a camp.”
Of course, it’s one thing to have solid production in camp, it’s another to get on the field and to do it in games. We have seen similar hype given to a walk-on receiver, with somewhat mixed results.
Nate Schoenle got all types of praise before even reaching the 2017 spring game. He ended up leading all the receivers, doing better than even Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black. While he did have some injuries in his career which precluded him from seeing the field, he never quite reached the hype that was heaped upon him at times. He was, however, a very productive player on special teams.
For O’Leary, it’ll similarly be a steep curve, especially considering that there are so many established playmakers expected to show out in 2022. And while those players are front of mind, you can’t dismiss another who’s earning enough respect from his peers to be mentioned as he has been, especially considering it’s been weeks apart and without any particular through-line.
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