The Top 10 international Michigan Football players since 2000
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Michigan’s international recruiting footprint has quietly become one of the more interesting parts of the program over the last two decades. Some of these players were born overseas before moving to the United States as kids, while others came directly from international football programs. Several became NFL Draft picks, and one became a Michigan legend.
Michigan has built a pretty impressive list of international contributors over the last 25 years. Here is our list of the 10 best.
1. Mike Sainristil — Haiti (2019-2023)
Michigan stats:
- 108 tackles
- 7 interceptions
- 2 defensive touchdowns
- 38 receptions
- 546 receiving yards
- 5 receiving touchdowns
- 2024 NFL Draft, second round, No. 50 overall to the Washington Commanders
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sainristil became one of the most beloved players of the Jim Harbaugh era. The switch from wide receiver to corner completely changed his career. By 2023, he was a consensus All-American, team captain and arguably the emotional leader of Michigan’s national championship defense. The interception vs Washington in the National Championship instantly became part of Michigan lore.
2. Junior Colson — Haiti (2021-2023)
Michigan stats:
- 257 tackles
- 8.5 tackles for loss
- 3.5 sacks
- 5 pass breakups
- 2024 NFL Draft, 3rd round, No. 69 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers
Michigan fans spent three years watching Colson fly downhill like he took opposing running games personally. Born in Haiti, Colson became the centerpiece of Michigan’s defense during the Wolverines’ CFP run a few years ago. He led the team in tackles twice and always seemed to end up around the football. His consistency alone puts him near the top of this list.
3. Kwity Paye — Guinea/Liberia (2017-2020)
Michigan stats:
- 100 tackles
- 23.5 tackles for loss
- 11.5 sacks
- 1 interception
- 2021 NFL Draft, 1st round, No. 21 overall to the Indianapolis Colts
Born in Guinea to Liberian parents, Paye became one of the anchors of Don Brown’s defenses and eventually a first-round pick. He may not have had Ojabo’s one-year explosion, but his overall Michigan career was longer and steadier.
4. David Ojabo — Nigeria/Scotland (2019-2021)
Michigan stats:
- 35 tackles
- 12 tackles for loss
- 11 sacks
- 5 forced fumbles
- 2022 NFL Draft, 2nd round, No. 45 overall to the Baltimore Ravens
Ojabo’s rise still barely makes sense. Born in Nigeria and raised in Scotland, he did not seriously play football until moving to the United States as a teenager. Just a few years later, he was wrecking Big Ten offensive tackles next to Aidan Hutchinson. The 2021 season was his breakout, and the Ohio State game that year cemented his place in Michigan history.
5. Amara Darboh — Sierra Leone (2012-2016)
Michigan stats:
- 151 receptions
- 2,062 receiving yards
- 14 touchdowns
- 2017 NFL Draft, 3rd round, No. 106 overall to the Seattle Seahawks
Darboh’s story remains one of the most remarkable stories in recent Michigan football history. Born in Sierra Leone, his family fled civil war before eventually settling in Iowa. By the end of his career, he had become one of the most reliable receivers of the Harbaugh era.
6. Jehu Chesson — Liberia (2012-2015)
Michigan stats:
- 114 receptions
- 1,639 receiving yards
- 16 total touchdowns
- 2017 NFL Draft, 4th round, No. 139 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs
If you watched the 2015 Indiana game, you probably still remember every second of it for Chesson — 10 catches for 207 yards and four touchdowns. At some point it stopped feeling like football and started feeling like somebody accidentally left the difficulty on freshman mode. Born in Liberia, Chesson became one of the most explosive players on offense of the Harbaugh era and one of the easiest Wolverines to root for.
7. Marlin Klein — Germany (2022-2025)
Michigan stats:
- 38 receptions
- 364 receiving yards
- 1 total touchdown
- 2026 NFL Draft, 2nd round, No. 59 overall to the Houston Texans
Klein arrived from Germany as a developmental prospect and slowly turned himself into one of Michigan’s most trusted tight ends. His impact went beyond stats, as he became a reliable blocker, a dependable target and one of those players fans appreciated more every week. He was just drafted in the second round to the Houston Texans back in April.
8. Blake O’Neill — Australia (2015)
Michigan stats:
- 53 punts
- 80 yard long
- 41.3 yard average
- 1 heart breaking play
Yes, everybody remembers the Michigan State ending. But before he had trouble with the snap, O’Neill was actually a very good punter and one of Michigan’s better special teams players during the 2015 season. Unfortunately, college football can be cruel sometimes and he will always be remembered for the failed punt.
9. Alain Kashama — Canada (2003-2006)
Michigan stats:
- 63 tackles
- 6 tackles for loss
- 3 sacks
Kashama does not get talked about much anymore, but he was one of Michigan’s earlier contributors from Canada in the modern recruiting era. He ended up carving out a solid career on the defensive line. He briefly appeared in the NFL as an undrafted free agent before playing in the Canadian Football League for a few years.
10. Julius Welschof — Germany (2018-2023)
Michigan stats:
- 36 tackles
- 5 tackles for loss
- 2 sacks
Welschof arrived from Germany as a raw prospect and slowly developed into a legitimate contributor. The former youth champion moguls skier made an unconventional transition to American football. Not every international recruit becomes a star, and becoming a dependable rotational player on CFP teams is sometimes enough.
Honorable mentions:
- Emmanuel Casseus — Canada (2000-2003)
- Ayo Shoyinka — Nigeria (2002-2005)
- Deitan Dubuc — Canada (2003-2007)
- Renaldo Sagesse — Canada (2007-2010)
- Sam McGuffie — Mexico (2008-2009)
- Benjamin St-Juste — Canada (2017-2018)
- Luiji Vilain — Canada (2017-2021)
- Sammy Faustin — Turks and Caicos (2020-2023)
- Alessandro Lorenzetti — Canada (2023-present)
- Manuel Beigel — Germany (2024-present)
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