As the Bearcats prepare to take the Big 12 by storm, they are looking to keep building the culture that Luke Fickell built. When Luke Fickell took the Cincinnati job in 2017, he made it a priority to build a winning culture at Cincinnati, and he did just that, as the Bearcats have gone 53-11 dating back to 2018, which is Top 10 in all of college football. Since then, the Bearcats went to a New Year’s Six Bowl in Fickell’s third year at the helm in 2020, a College Football Playoff berth in 2021 and saw 16 players drafted to the NFL in the last three seasons.
Flash forward to now, Fickell is the current head coach at Wisconsin and a new era has begun in Clifton. Scott Satterfield is looking to retain that culture that Cincinnati has built over recent years as the Bearcats transition into the Big 12 conference. Satterfield and company have embraced the culture despite adding 21 transfers this offseason, but the players have noticed that something special is being built in Clifton.
For, Dontay Corleone it means much more. Corleone was ranked PFF’s highest rated defensive player last season and plenty of opportunities to leave the Bearcats this offseason after the coaching change, but ultimately decided to stay in Cincinnati. “I am big on loyalty,” Corleone told TFON. “I couldn’t leave my hometown for anything else. It’s an honor and privilege to play for my own city. I wake up blessed every day to be a Bearcat.”
Cincinnati embraced defensive line
The Bearcats are set to return key players like Dontay Corleone (Colerain), Jowon Briggs (Walnut Hills), Malik Vann (Fairfield) for the 2023 season, a trio that is from the Cincinnati area. A trio that has produced some impressive numbers over the years during their time in Clifton. However, the trio is looking to take the Big 12 by storm later this year as the 2023 kicks off in 49 days. “I personally take a lot of pride in being from Cincinnati,” Briggs told TFON. “I grew up around the University of Cincinnati, I think a lot of guys take pride in what is going on at the University of Cincinnati. It’s a really beautiful thing to be able to provide and keep being a catalyst of what is going on at the University of Cincinnati.”
Briggs, is slated to return for his 5th season this fall despite having the opportunity to leave after the coaching change. However, for Briggs it meant much more to return to the Bearcats ahead of 2023. “I feel like when there is a good thing, a lot of guys can get distracted by glitz and glam, but when there’s a great thing going on, why leave it,” Briggs told TFON. “That is what Cincinnati has, I have always been a guy that has been in love with the culture and things that are here at Cincinnati, not only that but my family is here, so it was really a no brainer.” Briggs and his wife Nyjae are expecting their third child later this fall.
