David Paine Jr. is a young interior anchor with starting upside for Nevada
In the 2026 season, David Paine Jr. enters as a projected starting defensive tackle for Nevada after appearing in nine career games with eight tackles, so the box-score résumé is still light, but the staff clearly sees real interior value. At 6-foot-1, 273 pounds, he’s described as a smaller-but-stronger-technique blend on the defensive line, with a finesse-and-power mix that fits an inside disruptor role. The big appeal: he’s still ascending, he’s in line for a larger workload, and he could be a sneaky fit if you want a low-mileage DL with growth potential.
