Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati football redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Dontay Corleone and junior punter Mason Fletcher collected Preseason All-America honors from Athlon Sports this week.
Corleone, who earned second team accolades, continues to collect preseason awards after he was tabbed a Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-American earlier this offseason. He returns as the nation’s highest-graded defensive player by Pro Football Focus (PFF) after totaling 45 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 games on his way to receiving All-AAC First Team and Third Team All-America accolades from the Associated Press and PFF in 2022.
Fletcher received AP Third Team All-America honors after he 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. Fletcher also collected All-AAC First Team honors after he finished fourth nationally with a 46.2-yard average.
Fletcher totaled 14 punts of 50-plus yards and tallied 29 punts inside the 20. His season-long of 84 yards at SMU on Oct. 22 shattered the previous program and conference records.
In addition to the All-America selections, Fletcher and Corleone are a pair of five Bearcats who earned preseason All-Big 12 honors from the outlet.
Fletcher and Corleone lead the unit with first team conference honors, while senior defensive lineman Jowon Briggs was named to the third team. Senior defensive back Deshawn Pace and Utah State redshirt senior linebacker transfer Daniel Grzesiak were selected to the preseason fourth team.
Cincinnati opens the 2023 season as hosts to Eastern Kentucky at Nippert Stadium on Sept. 2.
