| Mike Sainristil | |
| Current Team: | Washington Commanders |
| Number: | 2 |
| Position: | Cornerback |
| Birth Date: | 3 October 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 10 |
| Weight Lb: | 182 |
| College: | Michigan (2019–2023) |
| Draftyear: | 2024 |
| Draftround: | 2 |
| Draftpick: | 50 |
| Pastteams: |
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| Status: | Active |
| Highlights: |
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| Statseason: | 2024 |
| Statlabel1: | Tackles |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statlabel3: | Forced fumbles |
| Statlabel4: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statlabel5: | Pass deflections |
| Statlabel6: | Interceptions |
| Statlabel7: | Touchdowns |
| Pfr: | SainMi00 |
Mike Sainristil (; born October 3, 2000) is a Haitian American football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was a college football All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023. Sainristil was selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Sainristil was born on October 3, 2000, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.[1] His family left the country when Sainristil was seven months old after his father, a radio station director, received threats following the 2000 Haitian presidential election.[2] The family settled in Everett, Massachusetts, where Sainristil later attended Everett High School.[3] Sainristil was the 2018 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, playing wide receiver and defensive back. He caught 30 passes for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Everett Crimson Tide (10-1) to the Division 1 North Sectional semifinals. Sainristil also recorded six interceptions in the secondary, including three in one game. He concluded his high school career with 28 receiving touchdowns.[4]
In November 2018, he committed to play college football at the University of Michigan.[5] He enrolled early and turned heads in Michigan's 2019 spring practice.[6] [7] Michigan's defensive coaches sought to use him as a cornerback, but the offensive staff won out in having him as a wide receiver.[8]
Despite his strong showing in spring practice, Sainristil saw limited time as a true freshman, catching eight passes for 145 yards and his first collegiate touchdown against Notre Dame, on October 26, 2019, totaling 73 yards in the game.[7] [9]
With the departure of receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black, and Nico Collins, Sainristil played a larger role in Michigan's offense during the 2020 and 2021 season.[10] [11] [12]
In 2022, Sainristil moved to cornerback.[13] [14] He finished his first collegiate season season on defense with 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 7 pass breakups and his first career interception on a pass throw by Max Duggan in the Fiesta Bowl.[15] He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention following the season.[16]
In 2023, Sainristil was voted a captain for a second consecutive season.[17] He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News, ESPN and FOX,[18] finishing the season with 44 tackles, 1 sack, 6 interceptions, 2 returned for touchdowns and 2 forced fumbles.[19] Sainristil was named the MVP of the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game[20] and recorded the game-clinching interception in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, intercepting Michael Penix Jr. and returning it 81 yards.[21]
| Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF | ||
| 2019 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 38 | 20 | 58 | 6.5 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 15 | 26 | 18 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 232 | 38.7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 62 | 70 | 38 | 108 | 10.5 | 3 | 7 | 240 | 34.3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Receiving | Rushing | Returns | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2019 | 13 | 8 | 145 | 18.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 | 82 | 11.7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 14 | 22 | 312 | 14.2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 0 | |
| Career | 33 | 37 | 539 | 14.6 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 0 | |
Sainristil was selected by the Washington Commanders in the second round (50th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.[22] He signed his four-year rookie contract on June 11, 2024.[23]