Cincinnati All-American defensive tackle Dontay Corleone is out indefinitely after being admitted to the hospital earlier this month because of blood clots in his lungs.
The Bearcats begin fall camp in less than five weeks, but Corleone’s status is up in the air for August and beyond.
“Right now, I’m focused on my recovery,” Corleone said in the announcement from the university. “My hope is I will be able to return to football soon, but in the meantime, I will do everything I can to rehab and help the football program as a leader and mentor to our younger players. I’m looking forward to being around the guys soon.
“The sky is the limit for the Bearcats this season. I love my teammates, our coaches, this university, this city, and — of course — this fanbase, which has been incredibly supportive of me over the last three years.”
Corleone was the No. 1-ranked defensive player by Pro Football Focus as a redshirt freshman in 2022. He was named to the All-American team in 2023.
Head coach Scott Satterfield credited the football team’s medical staff for swift action to get Corleone needed treatment.
Corleone, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, is undergoing treatment at home after spending one night in the hospital. He reported pain in his chest and difficulty breathing to team trainers. Since he was released from University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the Bearcats’ head team physician, Dr. Jon Divine, has worked with Corleone’s UCMC specialists to devise a recovery plan.
“Thankfully, we caught this early, and we are hopeful he will be able to safely return to playing football in the near future. We are currently consulting specialists to determine next steps,” said Aaron Himmler, UC senior associate athletic director for sports medicine.
Corleone has 6.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and 85 total tackles the past two seasons for the Bearcats.
