The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 73 [ W I D E R E C E I V E R S ] Wolverine. "This is where I go back to receiver play and quarterback play kind of going hand-in-hand. When you have confidence that your quarterback is going to give you a chance to catch the ball … I saw him go up and battle for balls against some corners, even a safety, and come down with it. "That's where I think he's really grown, because he's going to be the big re- ceiver. He's going to have to be the one that goes out there and catches the jump balls, catches balls in traffic, where he knows he's going to get hit. He did a good job of being more consistent and having confidence that Cade [McNamara] was going to throw a ball that he could go up and make a play on." Sainristil's role could increase not only because of his own upward trajectory, but also because Giles Jackson — similar in stature and speed — transferred out over the winter. Sainristil managed seven catches for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns last fall. "He's a guy that I think is going to have a good year," Jansen said. "But he's got to find a way to continue to do the things those guys in front of him are doing." By that, the former All-American Michigan lineman meant facets of the game such as blocking and fighting for extra yards, trademarks of junior wideout Ron- nie Bell. The latter characteristic helped Bell lead the Wolverines last season in receiving yardage (401). He also caught a team-leading 26 passes with one touchdown grab. Jansen noted Bell can do more, but likes both his ascending career and his leadership. "I love watching Ronnie Bell play football," Jansen offered. "I don't know that we've had a guy at that position play as hard as he plays. Now, he needs to catch the ball with a little bit more frequency. "But when he gets the ball in his hands, he is trying to find a way to get more yards. He's going to scratch and claw for every yard he can get. I just love watch- ing him play. "I love watching him without the football in his hands. When it's a run, he'll go in there and dig out a safety, he'll get a linebacker. When you see effort from your veteran receivers, now all of a sudden Cornelius sees that, and he gets the feeling like, 'Okay, that's what I've got to do.' Mike Sainristil, same thing." THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 73 QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Josh Gattis (third season). Returning Starter: Ronnie Bell (16 career starts). Departing Starter: Nico Collins (22) and Giles Jack- son (4; transferred to Washington). Projected New Starters: Cornelius Johnson (3) and Mike Sainristil (4). Top Reserves: A.J. Henning (1), Roman Wilson, Cristian Dixon and Andrel Anthony. Wait Until 2022: None. Newcomers: Dixon and Anthony. Moved In: None. Moved Out: Jackson. Rookie Impact: Dixon. Most Improved Player: Johnson. Best Pro Prospect: Bell. [ W I D E R E C E I V E R S ] Mike Sainristil posted seven catches for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns last fall, and he could be ready for a much bigger role this season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN PRESEASON ANALYSIS: STARTERS ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Junior Ronnie Bell has suffered from drops at times, but the former two-star prospect has blossomed to lead the Wolverines in receiving the last two years, surpassing several highly re- cruited teammates (and/or eventual draft picks). U-M boasts intriguing options for the No. 2 role and beyond — they could even go with speed or length, depending upon matchups or specific plays — but nobody else has more than 20 ca- reer catches. DEPTH ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The U-M wideouts have gone through a facelift the last 18 months, and though numbers may still be a little light, there's talent. Of the six scholarship receivers outside of Bell, two (Corne- lius Johnson and A.J. Henning) were consensus four-star prospects, two more (Roman Wilson and Cristian Dixon) were regarded as four-star recruits by two of the three major services and another (Mike Sainristil) earned one four-star listing. Johnson, Henning, Wilson and Sainristil have combined to play in 49 college games, though they have started just eight. OVERALL ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ At this point, Bell is proven, Johnson seems poised to break out, and Sainristil and Wilson have shown flashes. There's seemingly a little bit of everything with this group — three of the seven scholarship options are 6-2 or taller and then there are some speedy, more compact catchers as well. So much of this group's per- formance, however, will depend on the play of others (quarterback, offensive line).