DB Prospect Motivated by Charles Woodson, the Raiders legend
The Raiders in Las Vegas have a rich history of fielding some of the greatest football players in history as their elder statesmen.
Charles Woodson, the Hall of Famer, is one of those legends. The Raiders selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, cementing his status as a once-in-a-generation college football talent.
After more than twenty-five years, Woodson is the only Heisman Trophy winner to have played solely defense. He is the model cornerback for all great college football players, but at the University of Michigan, Woodson’s own institution, that ceiling carries a little more weight.
Similar to how Woodson did back in 1998, former Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil is currently heading into the NFL Draft after winning a national championship.
Sainristil revealed on Thursday at the NFL Combine that he and Woodson had conversations on occasion during Woodson’s last year of college.
“Just from a leadership standpoint, he gave me a few tips on how to hold guys accountable,” Sainristil stated. The legacy he left behind at Michigan is something you want to uphold. He was an excellent double-edge player and an excellent DB. I may say that I try to emulate his style of play.
“I definitely would have been in the same conversation as him if I had had the opportunity to go back and play offensive like he did. But, I was not given the opportunity. However, a guy like him means a lot to the program and to individuals who possess my level of physical skill.”
If Sainristil gets selected by the Raiders in the upcoming draft, he might continue Woodson’s legacy even more. That would be quite the story.
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25–27, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. The No. 13 overall pick is presently in the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders.
