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A 247Sports three-star recruit out of Everett (Massachusetts) High School in 2019, Mike Sainristil starred on both sides of the football for the Crimson Tide, winning back-to-back Division 1 state championships as a sophomore and junior.
Tallying 45 touchdowns during his prep career, 39 on offense, four on defense and two on special teams, he also took home some individual hardware, earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in the state as a senior.
Focusing his talents on offense in Ann Arbor, Sainristil delivered a promising freshman campaign, appearing in all 13 games and catching eight passes for 145 yards and a score, which came in the 45-14 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Michigan Stadium.
Hauling in one pass for 11 yards in the 2020 season-opening victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Oct. 24, the sophomore, who was born in Haiti, took some time to speak to the media three days later, and one of the areas he prides himself on is something that does not show up in the box score.
“I believe perimeter blocking, giving that extra effort for other guys, it gives you extra film and shows you have no problem with being physical because you need to be a physical receiver in today’s game,” Sainristil began. “Doing your responsibility, we believe in the receivers’ room, is what helps the ball find you, when you do what you’re supposed to do.
“That’s one thing Coach (Josh) Gattis preaches on us, style of play, making blocks down the field, letting the ball find you in other ways than it actually being in your hand because you never know when the running back could bounce a hole and come your way, he could cutback and come your way, blocking is very key in our offense on the perimeter.”
Totaling 481 yards of offense in the Minnesota win, 256 of which came on the ground, the new-look offensive line did their job well, but the receivers deserve some credit for securing their blocks on the outside, too.
Evidenced by classmate Giles Jackson’s block on junior linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin to help spring Zach Charbonnet’s 70-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Golden Gophers, sometimes the receivers are tasked with blocking larger bodies, but this position group welcomes that challenge.
“Don’t let size play a factor in your head when it comes to blocking someone who’s bigger than you,” Sainristil shared of the wide receivers’ mentality. “You have pads, they have pads, and football’s a physical game. It just comes down to who’s being more physical at the point of attack, the little details, like Coach Gattis says, getting your face in there, having a good base, and after that, it’s just you making the decision of wanting to or not wanting to.”
Looking to build off the positives of the Minnesota game, No. 13 Michigan is seeking a 2-0 start when they clash with the Michigan State Spartans in their home-opener on Saturday. The Wolverines won the 2019 edition of the rivalry, 44-10, their largest victory in the series since the 49-3 beatdown in 2002, which also took place in Ann Arbor.
Sainristil recorded two receptions for 21 yards in this matchup a year ago and took a moment during his Tuesday media session to describe what this game means to him.
“It’s state championship week,” he said. “The way I view this game is like when you’re in high school and you’re playing against your No. 1 rival.
“Just the energy in the city that week, we’ve got to go out there and dominate our opponent. Of course, every week, it’s just a little more given the fact that we’re playing Michigan State.
“Everybody’s mindset is, we’ve got to keep the (Paul Bunyan) Trophy here, don’t ever allow someone to come into your home and take what’s yours. It’s just one of those games where you can’t wait to get out there and play.”
Michigan owns a 71-36-5 all-time edge in the series, which dates to 1898, and will be gunning for their third-straight win over the Spartans, who will enter the matchup with someone other than Mark Dantonio on the sideline for the first time since 2006.
Kicking at 12 p.m. EDT, the game will be broadcast on FOX with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft on the call.