Gary Tinsley

Class:
Senior
Position:
Linebacker
Hometown:
Jacksonville, Fla.
High School:
First Coast

2011 ? SENIOR SEASON:
Started all 12 games at middle linebacker ? finished second on team in tackles with 87 (43 solo, 44 assisted) ? recorded 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 sacks ? broke up three passes ? earned fourth varsity letter.

Game-by-Game: Tallied seven tackles (four solo, three assists) with one TFL and broke up two passes in season opener at USC (9/3) ? recorded six tackles (four solo, two assists) with 0.5 tackles-for-loss vs. New Mexico State (9/10) ? notched five tackles (one solo, four assists) in 29-23 victory over Miami (Ohio) (9/17) ? eight tackles (two solo, six assists) and 0.5 tackles-for-loss in 37-24 loss to North Dakota State (9/24) ? tallied six tackles (two solo, four assists) with one tackle-for-loss in Big Ten opener at Michigan (10/1) ? tied for a team-high seven tackles (six solo, one assist) while also tallying one sack in 45-17 loss at Purdue (10/8) ? garnered seven tackles (four solo, three assists) in 41-14 Homecoming loss to Nebraska (10/22) ? recorded eight tackles (three solo, five assists) in 22-21 victory over Iowa (10/29) ? tallied six tackles (two solo, four assists) and one sack in 31-24 loss at Michigan State (11/5) ? led team with 12 tackles (seven solo, five assists) along with three tackles-for-loss and one sack in 42-13 home loss to Wisconsin (11/12) ? notched nine tackles (three solo, six assists) and one pass break-up in 28-13 loss at Northwestern (11/19) ? recorded six tackles (five solo, one assist), including a sack, in 27-7 victory over Illinois (11/26).

2010 ? JUNIOR SEASON:
Started all 12 games at linebacker ? led Minnesota with 90 total tackles (47 solo) in 2010 ? made 9.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage including 1.5 sacks ? also forced one fumble and broke up two passes ? hauled in his first-career interception in 2010 ? earned third varsity letter.

Game-by-Game: tallied one assisted tackle against MTSU (9/2) ? recorded six total tackles (four solo, two assists) the next week against South Dakota (9/11) including 1.5 tackles for a loss ? put up a team-high 10 tackles (seven solo, three assists) against USC (9/18) ? recorded five tackles (two solo) against Northern Illinois (9/25) including one tackle for a loss ? made 10 tackles (seven solo) against Northwestern (10/2) including two tackles behind the line of scrimmage ? also forced one fumble against the Wildcats ? led the Gophers with 14 tackles (six solo) against Wisconsin (10/9) ? also broke up his first career pass against the Badgers ? led Minnesota with ten tackles (five solo) against Purdue (10/16) ? made one tackle behind the line for a one-yard loss ? recorded first career interception against the Boilermakers, returning 52 yards before fumbling the ball for a Purdue touchback ? made six tackles (four solo) against Penn State (10/23) ? made six tackles (four solo) against Ohio State (10/30) ? picked up his second career sack against Michigan State (11/6), finishing the game with five tackles (four solo) ? led the Gophers defense with 12 tackles (four solo) against Illinois (11/13) including half a sack for a five-yard loss and an additional tackle behind the line for a three-yard loss ? contributed four tackles (one solo) in Minnesota's win over Iowa (11/27) while also breaking up a pass.

2009 ? SOPHOMORE SEASON:
Reserve linebacker saw his role increase throughout the season ? closed the regular season with a breakout performance, leading the defense with 10 tackles at Iowa ? also notched the first sack of his career in the regular-season finale ? first career tackle came against Wisconisn ? earned second varsity letter.

Game-by-Game: Appeared in each of the season's first four games, but did not record any statistics ? appeared in the 31-28 loss to Wisconsin (10/3) and recorded first career tackle, finishing with two on the day ? appeared in the 35-20 win over Purdue (10/10), but did not record any statistics ? in the 20-0 loss at No. 14 Penn State (10/17), finished with two tackles ? in the 38-7 loss to No. 18 Ohio State (10/24), notched two tackles ? in the 42-34 win over Michigan State (10/31), tallied one tackle for a loss of one yard ? in the 35-32 loss to Illinois (11/7), finished with one tackle ? in the 16-13 win over South Dakota State (11/14), finished with two tackles ? had a breakout game in the 12-0 loss to No. 15 Iowa (11/21), leading the team with a career-high 10 tackles, including four solo ? also recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss vs. the Hawkeyes ? recorded one solo stop vs. Iowa State at the Insight Bowl (12/31).

2008 ? FRESHMAN SEASON:
Emerging young linebacker who played in seven games, mostly on special teams ? did not record any statistics ? made his first collegiate appearance at Illinois (10/11) ? also saw action vs. Purdue (10/25), Northwestern (11/1), Michigan (11/8), Wisconsin (11/15), Iowa (11/22) and Kansas (12/31) ? earned first letter.

HIGH SCHOOL:
Attended First Coast High School, where he helped lead the Buccaneers to three straight District 4-4A titles ? headlined the No. 1 defense in Duval County as a senior in 2007, helping First Coast to an 11-3 record ? collected 70 tackles, including 25 sacks ? earned third team Florida Class 4A all-state honors from the Florida Sports Writer's Association and was a first team All-District 4-4A selection ? also earned all-conference and all-district honors ? named MVP of the 2007 Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South Football All-Star Classic, collecting five sacks and leading the North team to a 25-7 victory ? totaled 56 tackles, including 17 sacks, as a junior in 2006 ? earned honorable mention All-District 4-4A and all-conference honors ? coached by Marty Lee.

PERSONAL:
Born October 23, 1989 ? son of Ronda and Gary Tinsley ? business marketing education major.