Last month, a shocking report out of Cincinnati revealed that All-American defensive tackle Dontay Corleone was out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs.
Corleone, a 6-foot-2, 318-pound nose tackle from Ohio, quickly earned the title of one of the Big 12’s most-feared defenders during his short time in the league.
However, just two weeks later, it appears that things could be looking up for the Bearcats’ best defender.
During an interview on BYU Sports Nation, head coach Scott Satterfield said that Corleone is back working out with the team, which is incredible news considering the severity of such a diagnosis.
Satterfield expanded on those comments during his time with the media on Tuesday.
“He is back with our team,” Satterfield said. “He started working out last week, he was with our team yesterday so he will continue to work out all summer. We’re taking it day by day but hopefully as we progress throughout the summer and head to fall camp that he’ll be available to play and available to go.
“I know he wants to play. He’s an incredible young man, but we’ll take this day by day and we’ll see where it ends up at. Obviously the hope is that he’ll be able to play this fall.”
Satterfield credited team doctors, trainers and staff for helping to diagnose the blood clots.
Last season with the Bearcats, Corleone posted a total of 39 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup. His presence in the middle of the Cincinnati defensive line unit earned him the highest PFF grade of any defensive tackle in college football since 2022, with a rating of 92.7.
Corleone has had an incredibly decorated career at UC, earning several accolades as one of the best players in college football:
2023 All-Big 12 Second Team (AP and Coaches)
2023 Preseason All-Big 12
2023 Associated Press Preseason All-America First Team
2022 PFF’s Highest-Rated Defensive Player
2022 Associated Press Third Team All-American
2022 PFF Third Team All-American
2022 AFCA Freshman All-American
2022 College Football News Freshman All-American
PFF’s Highest-Rated Defensive Player (2022)
Associated Press Third Team All-American
PFF Third Team All-American
AFCA Freshman All-American
College Football News Freshman All-American
Cincinnati opens up its 2024 season on August 31 against Towson.
