Sainristil, Zinter make Sporting News All-America 1st Team
Really nice to see 1st-team All-American recognition for Mikey. Zinter made yet another 1st team. Mason Graham made the 2nd team.
Alabama's EDGE Dallas Turner and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry also made the 1st team, with S Caleb Downs, DB Terrion Arnold, and K Will Reichard making the 2nd team.
G: Zak Zinter, Michigan
Zinter's decision to return for another season was a huge plus for Michigan. The 6-6, 320-pound guard was a key piece on an interior that helped the Wolverines pile up 35 rushing TDs this season. Zinter suffered a season-ending injury against Ohio State, which sparked an emotional 30-24 victory.
DB: Mike Sainristil, Michigan
Sainristil was the ultimate right-place, right-time player for the nation's top scoring defense. He had five interceptions and two pick-sixes, but he also had 30 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He emerged as a heavy hitter in the secondary and an ultimate team leader for the nation's top-ranked scoring defense.
EDGE: Dallas Turner, Alabama
Turner has been a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, and he posted his best season with 50 tackles, nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Turner highlighted a 24-10 victory against Ole Miss on Sept. 23 with two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, and he became the consistent driving force for an improved Alabama defense.
CB: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
McKinstry was part of an improved Alabama secondary and emerged as a shut-down cornerback. He limited opposing receivers to just 17 catches and one TD this season – and that was a huge reason why the Crimson Tide made a push to the SEC championship. He's one of three Alabama defensive backs on our first and second teams.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^
Mikey could have transferred when he got the news that WR wasn't in his future. But he stuck with it and proved everyone wrong.
So proud to have him as a captain.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
That's the payoff for believing in yourself, as well as your coaches that say you have potential at a different position. He was fine as a receiver, but likely never would have made the NFL had he stayed one. Instead, he's a surefire draft pick as a DB, with some people saying he has fringe first round potential...
December 14th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
Um not sure where you're reading or hearing "borderline 1st round" because every draftnick service I just looked at had him between 3rd - 5th round. He definitely makes plays but he's small at 5'9' and he doesnt have elite speed. He's projected to slot corner and they think he'll do well in a zone-heavy defense.
Look, I love the guy too and give two shits about what the NFL thinks of him. FWIW he's one of my favorite all-time Wolverine for the reasons you listed, heck my absolute favorite Michigan player was Ricky Leach and he never got any time from the NFL.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
Wish I could find where I read that, it was just in the past week. The gist of the comment was that despite his height, he has an outside shot as a late first rounder. And maybe it was just a random comment on the board here, but I felt like it came from elsewhere. And it definitely stood out because it was the first time I had heard him mentioned that high.
And just to nitpick a bit, I didn't say he was a borderline first rounder, I said he had fringe first round potential. Which are different things in my mind. To me a borderline first rounder is someone who's consistently projected around the end of the first to the early (or maybe mid) second round. I.e. right around the borderline. Whereas fringe denotes more variance. And I think that's a good way to describe him. The big knock is his height (he'd be a surefire day two pick if he was a couple inches taller), but he plays bigger than his height. So probably a third or fourth rounder (that's where I'd guess he'll go), but every year there are one or more players that get picked a couple rounds ahead of where most seem to think they'll go, and I wouldn't be shocked if Sainristil was one of those flier picks...
December 14th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Side Q: we all saw Mikey force two fumbles in the B1G championship game...why was he only officially credited with one?
December 14th, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
He produced okay as a WR. Is it true he was told WR wasn't in his future?
I thought it was more, "You can stay at WR if you want to. But we see you being able to best help the team on defense. If it works, you will play more snaps. Also, we think you may have a better NFL shot there. With the extra COVID year, that's a year of extra development to help you get there."
I think he would have had the same snaps last year at WR and around 25-30 catches for 300-400 yds. But that may not have been enough to keep a spot for his free COVID (5th) year. I'm not sure he switches, or they ask him to switch, without that COVID year for extra development. It increased the value proposition.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^
He probably caught more TDs on defense than he would have on offense!
What a position switch. Absolute legend
December 14th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
He's caught passes from 10 different quarterbacks. 1/2 of those quarterbacks played for other teams.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Twice is nice. 😊 +1 for the added commentary.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
LOL. I scanned the past board messages list and didn't see this.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
I'm going to leave it on the board, though: with the writeup you included in your OP, you added value by adding in the info about two Bama defensive players that our players and coaches need to account for.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:50 PM ^
Thanks Comrade :)
December 14th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
Keith Jackson called the Miracle on Ice from the moon?
December 14th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
Keith Jackson also won sporting new's best announcer of the year for the 5th year in a row
December 14th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
Well deserved. He's still better than any of the stiffs calling games today...
December 14th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
If you think those guys are stiff...
December 14th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
How can you say things like “whoa nellie”, “he’s a hoss, he’s a load” and “rumblin, bumblin, stumblin down the sidelines” are better than “mazerati marv” and “woah!”
December 14th, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
Maybe he's only a soph-a-more.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
Sooooo passing on Bama will be tough.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Standard passing game, yes. But getting The Don or Loveland matched up against their linebackers would be a good strategy.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
TEs and backs will have to be huge for Michigan if they are to win this game.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
Whoa Nellie!!!
December 14th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
Snaps for Zak and Mike.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
Well deserved
Will end up as two of my all time favorite Wolverines
December 14th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
Where's Punxsutawney Phil?!?
December 14th, 2023 at 5:46 PM ^
Much deserved. Congratulations to Mike an Zak. Thank you for staying and for an awesome season. Continued success gentlemen !
December 14th, 2023 at 6:09 PM ^
So nobody's going to mention there's a guy named Kool-Aid?