Michigan Football: Josh Gattis impressed with WR Mike Sainristil

Mike Sainristil is not a name enough Michigan football fans know but after Josh Gattis openly praised him on Twitter Monday, everyone will know him now.

Michigan football fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the new offensive scheme being installed by offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.

Yet, schemes are only as good as the players running them and on Monday, we got a look at how one freshman wideout is adapting to Gattis and Michigan football as early enrollee Mike Sainristil became an internet sensation with his route-running ability.

Sensation may be a bit strong, however, the short video posted by Gattis of practice Monday, certainly got some peoples attention and reminded everyone that there is more to this freshman wide receiving class than Giles Jackson and Cornelius Johnson.

Gattis was demonstrating how to run routes and posted a video of him showing wide receivers how to do it. Then, the next clip showed the freshman, Sainristil, a 5-foot-10 wide receiver, doing the same thing and looking electrifying in the process, catching a pass and beating a defensive back up the sideline.

Obviously, one good catch and run doesn’t mean that Sainristil is going to start flying up the depth chart. Yet, he is the kind of guy that Michigan football has needed in the slot and while many have pegged Jackson for that role, Sainristil is very similar.

He was recruited to Michigan as a cornerback/wide receiver but has started out on the offensive side of the ball. He’s quick and shifty just like Jackson and the two of them are ideal for what Gattis wants to do.

Speed in space can mean getting the ball to guys like Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins or Tarik Black on the outside, however, it also means taking advantage of those mismatches in the slot.

Michigan didn’t do that well enough last season or in the last few seasons. The quick out or quick throw to the slot hasn’t been all that successful, in part, because the slot receivers haven’t been that dynamic.

If you are going to make big plays at that position, you need to break tackles and use your speed to rack up yards after the catch. In short, you have to be able to get the ball, in space and make a play.

That’s something the Wolverines hope they can get from Sainristil and if his work in practice is any indication, Michigan football should be feeling good about his prospects for contributing this fall.