The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2019 M ichigan's receiving corps was lim- ited this spring with third-year veterans Nico Collins, Donovan Peo- ples-Jones and Tarik Black all missing time with injuries, but there was an up- side to their absence (in addition to the obvious — that all were expected back at 100 percent by fall practice). Many of the young receivers got opportunities in their absence. Senior quarterback Shea Patterson missed his usual go-to guys, but found others to throw to in the meantime. "I think that gave the young guys an opportunity to come in and get some experience and go against the ones and twos," Patterson said after the April 13 spring scrimmage. "… All those guys got real, live reps in 13 practices so far. "When those guys come back, we'll be that much better. It's exciting." One in particular — early enrollee freshman Mike Sainristil — stood out from day one. "I knew he was going to be legit as soon as I started throwing with him when he got here, before spring ball and during winter workouts," Pat- terson said. "He's a great athlete, has speed like no other and he's football savvy as well. He's made numerous plays this spring. I missed him today [in the spring game], threw the ball inside [for an interception]. We've run that play 20 times in practice for a com- pletion. "I think yesterday I threw one on a two-minute drive and he caught one one-handed, made a hell of a play. I'm very excited about him." Veteran running back Tru Wilson called him a "jitterbug, really good." Redshirt freshman right tackle Jalen Mayfield admitted there were times he and his teammates were caught watch- ing him downfield while chasing the play. Sainristil, the 2018 Gatorade Mas- sachusetts Player of the Year and USA Today Defensive Player of the Year in his home state while playing at Ever- MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Freshman Receiver Mike Sainristil Is Turning Heads Early enrollee Mike Sainristil was one of the wideouts who stepped up in the injury absence of U-M's trio of third-year veterans Nico Collins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN