TicketsCINCINNATI – Redshirt junior defensive lineman Dontay Corleone was named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award on Monday.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994.
Corleone has received several preseason recognitions heading into the 2024 campaign. "The Godfather" was previously named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Lott IMPACT Award as well as earning preseason All-America distinctions from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
The Cincinnati native collected All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2023 after totaling 39 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and three sacks while starting all 12 games to anchor defense. The Colerain High School product capped the fall as the Big 12's third-rated defensive lineman (83.6), according to Pro Football Focus. Corleone also made the Preseason All-Big 12 Team for a second straight year. He collected consensus Freshman All-America and Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 2022 after finishing as the nation's highest-graded defensive players by PFF.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 26, 2024. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
ABOUT THE BEDNARIK AWARD
The Bednarik Award is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
HELP US KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE, BUY TICKETS TODAY
UC ranks among the Top 25 winningest programs in the country over the last 10 years and Nippert Stadium's incredible homefield advantage is a major reason why. Help the Bearcats keep their streak of 18 consecutive Nippert Stadium sellouts alive by becoming a season ticket member HERE.
Season tickets are fans' best chance for best seats to cheer on the Bearcats. However, single-game tickets are on sale now (starting as low as $30) Towson (Aug. 31) and Pitt (Sept. 7).
Led by head coach Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati enters its second season in the Big 12 this fall. In 2023, the Bearcats ranked fifth in the country in rushing and return 1,000-yard rusher Corey Kiner and their entire offensive line. Cincinnati also brings back All-Americans: right guard Luke Kandra, nose tackle Dontay "The Godfather" Corleone and punter Mason Fletcher.
A pair of historic rivalries return to Nippert Stadium with Pitt coming to town for the first time since 2012 and West Virginia heading to the Queen City for the first time since Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats to a 24-21 victory in 2009. Cincinnati will also open the season against Towson, host Arizona State for the first-time ever and TCU for the first time since 2004. Additionally, Houston returns to Nippert Stadium for the first time since the Bearcats' 35-20 victory in the 2021 AAC Championship.
The complete 2024 Cincinnati football schedule can be found here: Web | Printable
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994.
Corleone has received several preseason recognitions heading into the 2024 campaign. "The Godfather" was previously named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Lott IMPACT Award as well as earning preseason All-America distinctions from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
The Cincinnati native collected All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2023 after totaling 39 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and three sacks while starting all 12 games to anchor defense. The Colerain High School product capped the fall as the Big 12's third-rated defensive lineman (83.6), according to Pro Football Focus. Corleone also made the Preseason All-Big 12 Team for a second straight year. He collected consensus Freshman All-America and Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 2022 after finishing as the nation's highest-graded defensive players by PFF.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 26, 2024. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
ABOUT THE BEDNARIK AWARD
The Bednarik Award is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
HELP US KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE, BUY TICKETS TODAY
UC ranks among the Top 25 winningest programs in the country over the last 10 years and Nippert Stadium's incredible homefield advantage is a major reason why. Help the Bearcats keep their streak of 18 consecutive Nippert Stadium sellouts alive by becoming a season ticket member HERE.
Season tickets are fans' best chance for best seats to cheer on the Bearcats. However, single-game tickets are on sale now (starting as low as $30) Towson (Aug. 31) and Pitt (Sept. 7).
Led by head coach Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati enters its second season in the Big 12 this fall. In 2023, the Bearcats ranked fifth in the country in rushing and return 1,000-yard rusher Corey Kiner and their entire offensive line. Cincinnati also brings back All-Americans: right guard Luke Kandra, nose tackle Dontay "The Godfather" Corleone and punter Mason Fletcher.
A pair of historic rivalries return to Nippert Stadium with Pitt coming to town for the first time since 2012 and West Virginia heading to the Queen City for the first time since Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats to a 24-21 victory in 2009. Cincinnati will also open the season against Towson, host Arizona State for the first-time ever and TCU for the first time since 2004. Additionally, Houston returns to Nippert Stadium for the first time since the Bearcats' 35-20 victory in the 2021 AAC Championship.
The complete 2024 Cincinnati football schedule can be found here: Web | Printable