Michigan Football: 5 Biggest Players from the Wolverines' Win over OSU

Michigan Football: 5 Biggest Players from the Wolverines’ Win over OSU

COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 26: Running Back Donovan Edwards #7 (R) and Quarterback J.J. McCarthy #9 (L) of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate after a college football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 45-23 over the Ohio State Buckeyes and clinched the Big Ten East. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

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Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil tackles Ohio State running back Chip Trayanum during the second half at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. /

4. Mike Sainristil

Last year’s game saw incredible play out of Michigan’s slot corner, a role primarily filled by Daxton Hill. Hill was a former five-star recruit and was a first-round pick in the NFL draft in April.

This year, that spot was filled by Mike Sainristil, who played wide receiver in last year’s game. He performed just as well. Any and all questions of could a converted receiver match up against the Buckeyes’ stable of five-star receivers were silenced.

Sainristil recorded seven tackles and two pass breakups on the day, including one in the end zone on a critical third down. Without that play, Ohio State has all sorts of momentum and is only down four, making it an entirely different game.

Coach Jim Harbaugh labeled Mike Sainristil as a “Determined Athlete With Grit” after the game. It’s tough to come to any other conclusion; Sainristil has that dawg in him.

The senior captain has been asked to do an incredible amount of things in his time at Michigan and has answered the call every single time. He will go down as one of the most underrated players in program history and was critical to the Wolverines’ success not just today, but for the past few years.

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