Cincinnati defensive tackle Dontay Corlone collected Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America accolades on Thursday.
He is the first Bearcat to collect FWAA Freshman All-America honors since cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner accomplished the feat in 2019.
The Cincinnati native and Colerain High School product appeared in 11 games for the Bearcats, tallying 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Corleone helped lead a defense that ranked fifth in the country in yards per play allowed (4.61). He now returns to a defensive line that includes veterans Jowon Briggs and Malik Vann returning, in addition to his old high school teammate, Eric Phillips.