Per GoBearcats:
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Dontay Corleone was named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award on Monday.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994.
Corleone has received several preseason recognitions heading into the 2024 campaign. “The Godfather” was previously named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Lott IMPACT Award as well as earning preseason All-America distinctions from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
The Cincinnati native collected All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2023 after totaling 39 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and three sacks while starting all 12 games to anchor defense. The Colerain High School product capped the fall as the Big 12’s third-rated defensive lineman (83.6), according to Pro Football Focus. Corleone also made the Preseason All-Big 12 Team for a second straight year. He collected consensus Freshman All-America and Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 2022 after finishing as the nation’s highest-graded defensive players by PFF.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 26, 2024. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
