Since his freshman year at Cincinnati, Dontay Corleone has been viewed as one of the top interior defensive linemen in college football.
A first-team All-Big 12 defender in 2024, Corleone played in 11 games and totaled 26 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and a career-high 3.5 sacks. “The Godfather” has been one of the best run stuffers in the league, but after three seasons, many expected that Corleone might be headed to the next level in 2025.
On Monday, he announced his decision for the upcoming season via social media.
“Growing up in Cincinnati, I always dreamed of being a Bearcat,” Corleone writes. “To run onto the field in Nippert Stadium in front of thousands of Cincinnati fans. The past three years, I have lived that dream every Saturday. Memories of my life and the relationships I have made will last a lifetime here.
“After much consideration and reflection with my family, I have decided that my time as a Bearcat is not over. Let’s run it back one more time!”
With Corleone back, the Bearcats have now ensured that another key piece will be returning for Year 3 of the Scott Satterfield era, as UC also locked in quarterback Brendan Sorsby last week.
Cincinnati finished the year with a 5-7 record and just missed on a bowl berth, but it should be in good shape to make a run at the postseason in 2025.
