Gavin Tinch brings NFL-size upside to SIU’s defensive front
In the 2026 season, Gavin Tinch is a 6-foot-5, 305-pound freshman defensive tackle at Southern Illinois, and his frame alone makes him an easy “fit” conversation for teams hunting interior size and power[1][7]. He arrives with strong prep credentials — all-state honorable mention in 2024, plus two-time all-conference and all-area recognition — and helped Prairie Ridge reach a state runner-up finish in 2022 and go 9-0 in 2023[1][6]. The early read is a developmental lineman with real mass and growth potential, though he has no available college game log yet[4].
