Per GoBearcats:
The Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday that Cincinnati redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman Dontay Corleone and junior punter Mason Fletcher were named to the 2023 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, as voted on by conference media representatives.
The pair continues to collect preseason accolades after each were tabbed Preseason All-Americans by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Corleone, who was also selected as a Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-American in March, returns as the highest-graded defensive player (93.8) by Pro Football Focus after totaling 45 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 games before All-AAC First Team and Third Team All-America honors from the Associated Press (AP) and PFF in 2022. The Cincinnati native particularly excelled against the run, where his 94.7 grade by PFF was the best mark of any player since 2019.
Corleone will also be one of four players that will represent Cincinnati at Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 13-14.
Fletcher established himself as one of the nation’s premier punters by being named AAC Special Teams Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the prestigious Ray Guy Award in 2022. He also received AP Third Team All-America and honors and All-AAC First Team honors after he finished fourth nationally with a 46.2-yard average and totaled 14 punts of 50-plus yards and tallied 29 punts inside the 20.
The Melbourne, Australia native helped Cincinnati rank second nationally with a 44.35 net punting average and his season-long of 84 yards at SMU on Oct. 22 shattered the previous program and conference records.
