Dartanyan Tinsley, a standout offensive lineman for the University of Cincinnati, has officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. During an interview, the Owensboro native shared his excitement and reflected on his football journey, expressing gratitude for the coaches, mentors, and family members who shaped his career.
“It’s definitely wild,” Tinsley said. “Six years ago, I don’t know if I would’ve believed it, but here we are. I feel confident about it.”
Tinsley’s path to the draft has been anything but conventional. He began his football career at Owensboro High School, where he admitted his first three years were average. A pivotal shift came during his senior year when he said a coach’s belief in him helped unlock his potential.
“Coach Todd Houston brought out a different side of me,” Tinsley said. “He told me, ‘You could be good at this if you put your head down and go to work.’ That changed everything for me.”
After high school, Tinsley played at Kentucky Christian University, where he redshirted his first year. By his second and third years, he was starting and earning accolades, including All-Conference honors. Some of his coaches said he had outgrown the NAIA level, so Tinsley entered the transfer portal in 2021 and eventually landed in Cincinnati.
As a Bearcat, Tinsley faced new challenges. His first season in 2022 was spent learning the ropes and contributing to special teams. But by 2023, he became a reliable starter, playing in 21 games over two seasons.
“Every time you level up, it takes a minute to get acclimated,” Tinsley said. “But those two years were huge for my development.”
As he prepares for the draft, Tinsley will spend December relaxing with family in Owensboro and training. In January, he’ll travel to Florida to work at X3 Performance, focusing on combine preparation and pro day drills. He’s also slated to compete in the Hula Bowl All-Star Game in early January.
Tinsley credits much of his success to the communities that supported him, particularly Owensboro and Cincinnati.
“I’ve got to give credit to people like Chad Morris, Coach Fallin, and my family – my grandma and great-grandma especially,” Tinsley said. “They all pushed me to stay focused.”
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While Tinsley has no specific predictions for where he might be selected, he said he’s ready for whatever comes.
“If I’m picked in the seventh round or as No. 256, I’d still feel ecstatic and blessed,” Tinsley said. “It’s all about the opportunity.”
He just hopes to make his hometown proud and inspire others to chase their dreams.
