Dontay Corleone

Dontay Corleone played high school football at Colerain High School in Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a highly decorated defensive lineman named First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-Southwest Ohio District, Greater Miami Conference Defensive Athlete of the Year and First Team All-GMC. Corleone, nicknamed “the Godfather”, was a three-star prospect who quickly committed to his childhood team, the University of Cincinnati. Corleone did not see the field in 2021 and was redshirted by the Bearcats. In 2022, Corleone not only started but starred for Cincinnati. He was rated as PFF’s top defensive player in the country and was named third team All-American by PFF and the Associated Press. He finished the season, starting 11 games and collecting 45 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Corleone was offered a chance at receiving a higher NIL package from other schools, but stated that he was a Cincinnati guy and chose to stay with the Bearcats. In 2023, Corleone was a preseason first team All-American by the AP and was named to the Chuck Bednarik, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Outland Trophy, and the Bronco Nagurski watch lists. He was a force in 2023, starting 12 games and accruing 39 tackles, 6.5 for a loss and 3 sacks. Although he could have been selected in the 2024 draft, Corleone decided to come back to Cincinnati to improve his draft stock. In 2024, Corleone started 11 games and collected 26 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. At the end of the season Corleone once again surprised many by announcing he was coming back to Cincinnati for his last year of eligibilty.