Sainristil needs 1 more defensive TD to match his offensive TDs
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4428414/mike-sainristil
Not a historian or anything but was wondering about this - according to ESPN it looks like he had 3 offensive TDs across 2019 and 2021, and now has 2 return TDs in 2023. Would be pretty neat if he gets it, he's on pace for it (accepting that defensive TDs are pretty random events, but Sainristil also looks better during the return runs than many purely defensive players)
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
Sainristil is one of my all-time favorite Michigan players.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
His pass break up against Stover in Columbus last year was, IMO, the play of the game. Fantastic ability, hustle, and execution.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
Play of the year. If Stover makes that catch, OSU can make a two point conversion that puts the game within a FG reach, and the entire tide of the game turns. With it, maybe Michigan's season is on the ropes.
Instead, Sainristil executes that play flawlessly, OSU settles for a sad field goal, and the rest of the game, as they say, is history.
Mike made himself a lottttttt of money on that play, and he's continuing to do so with his level of play this year, too.
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
I always wonder how Stover feels about the play. Must suck for him. He coulda made that catch securely and avoided the PBU.
Also credit to the pressure forcing a long looping throw, but minus to Will Johnson for kinda giving up on the play.
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^
I honestly think it's a top 10 play in Michigan football history. I don't think I'm being hyperbolic.
October 23rd, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Given the stakes, the fact that we hadn't won in Columbus in over twenty years, and it was one of those "high leverage moments" that Michigan almost always found itself on the wrong end of against OSU during that time, it is absolutely one of the top 10 plays in Michigan football history.
October 23rd, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
Even no stakes, it was a hell of a play and highlight type omg. It’s in the hall of Woodson msu interception and stuff
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
In the other thread, Klatt said Michigan's defense has given up 5 touchdowns but scored 4.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Sainristill can't Standstill. Always in motion.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
This thread made me look up Sir Charles Woodson's stat line at Michigan and I was surprised to be reminded that he never scored a TD on an interception return. His TDs broke down as follows:
- Special Teams: 1
- Rushing: 2
- Receiving: 3
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^
I guess people learned quickly not to throw at him.
Given how much that highlight plays in our collective heads, I would never have thought that was his only punt return TD.
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:03 PM ^
CW was never a prolific punt returner. He was sure handed and rarely made a mistake returning punts but I don't recall a huge return other than the HUGE one against osu.
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
He desperately tried to score after intercepting Cade McNoun (UCLA) in 1996. The first of 2 interceptions that day. Even Bob Griese mentioned you could tell how badly he wanted to score.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
Has any Michigan player ever scored both an offensive and defensive touchdown against Michigan State in their career like Sainristil has?
For that matter, how many Michigan players even have both an offensive and defensive touchdown period?
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:36 PM ^
Hmmm, Ian Gold scored a defensive TD against Arkansas in '98, but I don't think he ever scored an offensive TD as a freshman RB.
We've had other RBs (such as Justin Fargas) who scored TDs before moving to defense, but I don't think they scored defensive TDs.
I'm failing to come up with a single example of someone (other than Sainristil) who has scored on both sides of the ball. Can anyone else name someone?
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^
Tom Harmon. Two pick-sixes on top of his Offensive and Special Teams TDs
https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aaharmon.htm
I would have thought that either Jabril Peppers or Charles Woodson might have done it, but I don't seen any defensive TDs for either.
October 23rd, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
Closest to scoring on both offense and defense against MSU was Peppers in 2016. A rushing touchdown as wildcat QB to open Michigan's scoring, and a fumble recovery on "D" against MSU's two-point play returned for a 2 point play of our own to close the scoring. But, that's technically special teams, and not a touchdown, even though its a play from scrimmage.
October 23rd, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
Well if he does then I say we continue to let him see the field on defense...otherwise...
October 23rd, 2023 at 1:54 PM ^
For someone who was only a middling contributor on offense, he is a defensive star and the heart and soul of the team and does one hell of a Paul Bunyan pose.
October 24th, 2023 at 4:08 PM ^
What an absolute treat it's been to watch this kid.