Gavin competed for  the Tennessee State football team from 1954-57. A native of Lake, Mississippi, Gavin was a two-time All-American at TSU and played under legendary coaches Henry Kean and Howard Gentry.

As a Tiger, Gavin compiled a record of 32-2-1.

Following his career at TSU, Gavin became a member of the inauguarl 1960 Broncos team. He spent four seasons with the Broncos (1960-63), most notably scoring a touchdown in the 1961 season and grabbing an interception in the 1962 campaign.

Gavin,  a member of the board of directors of the Denver Broncos Alumni Association, told the Denver Post in 2009: "We just went out there and did our job. We were all just ballplayers."

After Gavin finished his playing career at TSU, he continued to follow the Tiger football program.

Visitation will be held at King Baptist Church in Denver, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 7 from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. while the service will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 11 a.m.