When the Nebraska football team squares off against Cincinnati on Thursday night, there is one defender that head coach Matt Rhule is most concerned about. It's no surprise that Dontay Corleone was called out by the Husker head man, but the man lovingly referred to as The Godfather by Bearcats fans isn't a household name in Lincoln yet. Cornhusker faithful should hope that he doesn't become one, or the season opener could offer up a long night.
During a Friday press conference, Rhule talked about a number of things that worry him about the showdown in Arrowhead Stadium this week. The UC front stood out from the crowd.
Why Nebraska football must neutralize Cincinnati DT Dontay Corleone
"This will be as formidable of a front seven as we're going to see," the Nebraska head coach explained to the gathered media. He then added, "The Corleone kid is fantastic." Rhule also said that Cincinnati's scheme is a difficult one in general. He also offered up that he thinks the Husker offensive line can handle the job. But some might wonder just how the "Corleone kid" is.
"One of the best interior linemen in the country," Dave Wilson of ESPN wrote just a few days ago, naming Dontay Corleone one of the best 100 players in the sport. "A 6-1, 330-pound three-time all-conference selection who has played 34 games for the Bearcats, all while battling medical issues with blood clots that prevented him from practicing and didn't allow him to play until Sept. 3 last year, when he had six tackles and a sack against Pitt. Now healthy, he's primed for one final year."
Corleone is healthy now, and it's important to note that even with his issues and a down year by his standards, he still posted a career high in sacks with 3.5 in 2024. He returns as a captain of the team and a leader of the defense.
With 109 career tackles and 9.5 sacks over center, Dontay Corleone will be a handful for the Nebraska football front. If they allow him to get the running game and Dylan Raiola and off schedule, things could turn frightening, rather quickly.