CINCINNATI – A decorated collection of four Cincinnati football players will represent the program on July 8 at Big 12 Media Days powered by Microsoft Copilot at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Dontay Corleone, Gavin Gerhardt, Joe Royer, and Brendan Sorsby will meet with media from all over the country to talk Bearcats football ahead of the 2025 season. In addition to visiting with television and radio reporters, the student-athletes will participate in several marketing and branding activations with the conference.
Defensive Tackle Dontay Corleone
A two-time All-American, “The Godfather” earned his third consecutive all-conference nod last season, collecting First Team All-Big 12 honors. He logged 26 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks while overcoming a difficult offseason that saw him sidelined with blood clots for three months. Corleone returned to action on Sept. 3 last year and made an immediate impact.
Offensive Lineman Gavin Gerhardt
A two-time team captain, Gerhardt started all 12 games at center last season and has made 36 starts in his career as a Bearcat. He helped pave the way for running back Corey Kiner to rush for a second consecutive 1,000-yard season last year and has been one of the top-rated centers in the Big 12 each of the last two seasons according to Pro Football Focus.
Tight End Joe Royer
A First Team All-Big 12 honoree in his first season at UC, Royer broke the single-season school record for receptions by a tight end with 50, besting Travis Kelce’s mark of 45 from 2012. Royer’s 50 catches went for 521 yards and he caught three touchdowns as well. He led all Big 12 tight ends in receptions and receiving yards last season.
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby
Sorsby emerged as one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the county in 2024, his first as a Bearcat. He was the only FBS quarterback last season with 425-yard passing game and a 125-yard running game, and he was one of just four FBS players with at least 2,800 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, and nine rushing touchdowns. He completed 249-of-389 passes (64.0%) for 2,813 yards and 18 TDs while adding 447 yards and nine scores on the ground. Sorsby was a two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.