The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 35 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Five Best Players 1. Graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil Nobody on the Michigan defense has stepped up in big moments more than Sainristil this sea- son, and his playmaking continued in the Big Ten Championship Game, a 26-0 win over Iowa Dec. 2. He earned MVP honors by forcing 2 fumbles that were recovered by the Wolverines and turned into 10 points. He also jumped a route and broke up a pass he nearly intercepted, notched a sack and had 3 quarterback pressures. He was also playing outside cornerback instead of his normal nickel back position due to the injury to sophomore Will Johnson, and the same was the case at the end of the 30-24 win over Ohio State Nov. 25. Sainristil had his first-ever 2-interception game in a 31-24 win at Maryland Nov. 18, both coming when the Wolverines needed to make a play in what was a hard-fought road game. 2. Senior running back Blake Corum The 5-8, 213-pounder is a touchdown machine, setting the Wolverines' single-season rushing score record with 24 on the year. He's now tied with Anthony Thomas (1997-2000) as Michigan's all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns with 55. Corum tallied 11 rushing touchdowns in the last five games, scoring at least two in all of them, with a pair against Maryland, Ohio State and Iowa. His strength and burst make him nearly impossible to stop at the goal line. 3. Graduate kicker James Turner Kickers are often hot and cold, and Turner is on fire right now. The Louisville transfer and Saline, Mich., native hasn't missed a kick since Sept. 23 against Rutgers, making his last 14 field goals. Turner had a bit of a quiet season until the end, but he made all 3 of his kicks against Ohio State, including tying his career high with a 50-yarder, before nailing 4 in the Big Ten title game. Michigan would much prefer to finish drives with touchdowns, but it feels great knowing No. 32 can ensure the Wolverines get points when they don't punch it in the end zone. 4. Junior safety Rod Moore The Clayton, Ohio, native "called game" against Ohio State, grabbing the contest-sealing intercep- tion as the Buckeyes were driving down trying to score a game-winning touchdown with under a minute to go. Senior edge Jaylen Harrell provided the pressure that caused the poor throw by quar- terback Kyle McCord. Moore was injured at the start of the season and took some time to shake off the rust, but he finished strong, with 19 tackles and a pick in the last four outings. 5. Sophomore tight end Colston Loveland Michigan completed 16 passes against Ohio State, 5 of them going to Loveland and all of those resulting in first downs. The Wolverines rode their 6-foot-5, 245-pounder and went to him in big mo- ments — including on a key fourth-and-1 situation to convert and keep a drive alive that ended in a touchdown and for a 34-yard hookup on a posses- sion that concluded with a field goal. Loveland's 5 catches for 88 yards led all Michi- gan receivers in The Game, one week after haul- ing in 3 receptions for 36 yards against Maryland. Loveland had a trio of receptions for 22 yards in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa. Key Moment The air left the stadium when senior right guard Zak Zinter went down with a gruesome leg injury in the third quarter of the clash with Ohio State. The score was tied at 17-17, Ohio State had the momentum and U-M's attention turned to the health of its beloved team captain. Zinter gave a thumbs up and raised a fist in the air while he was on the cart that took him up the tunnel. "Let's go, Zak" chants rained down at The Big House, and Michigan responded on the very next play when Corum reeled off a 22-yard touch- down run. The Wolverines had the momentum the rest of the way in the 30-24 victory. Best Highlight Michigan's offense was scuffling in the first half of the rivalry tilt versus the Buckeyes, scoring one early touchdown via a short field. The Wolverines had driven down to the Ohio State 22-yard line but faced third-and-10. Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy dropped back to pass and threaded the needle in between double coverage, hitting senior wideout Roman Wilson, who bobbled the ball and came down with the catch while falling into the end zone. The score gave Michigan a 14-3 edge early in the second stanza. Bold Prediction All the talk leading into the Rose Bowl is about Alabama's dynamic quarterback, Jalen Milroe, but McCarthy will outplay him and lead the Wol- verines to victory over the Crimson Tide. Like McCarthy did against TCU last season, in his first CFP start, Alabama's redshirt sophomore will make some mistakes. — Clayton Sayfie Superlatives For Michigan's Three Games From Nov. 18 To Dec. 2 Sainristil, the two-time team captain, has made big plays for Michigan all year. He earned MVP honors in the Big Ten Championship Game win versus Iowa Dec. 2. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER