From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Cincinnati DT Dontay Corleone.
#2 DONTAY CORLEONE – 6-1, 335 POUNDS (RS SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Dontay Corleone 6-1/335 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Exceptional build for a nose tackle with elite power, low center of gravity, and mass
– Heavy hands and grip strength to control blocks once engaged
– Quick first step, fires off the snap faster than most nose tackles
– Very strong lower body that generates push and anchor against linemen
– Dominant point of attack power that can reset the line of scrimmage
– Absorbs double teams and compresses gaps
– Excellent block recognition and ability to locate the ball
– Natural pad level creates consistent leverage wins
– Converts speed-to-power to push and collapse the pocket
– Violent hands as a pass rusher when his timing is right
– Effective on stunts and twists due to burst and mass
– High effort player with a competitive demeanor
– Durable workhorse to play a significant amount of snaps
– Leadership qualities are off the charts
THE BAD
– Below average length and wingspan compared to NFL interior linemen
– Lacks elite closing speed or pursuit range outside of the tackle box
– Appears to have tight hips and lateral agility due to mass distribution
– Can overcommit upfield and open cutback lanes
– Limited length makes it harder to shed blockers when they get inside his frame
– Very limited rush plan other than bull rushes, long-arms, and club moves at times
– Limited counter moves once the initial rush plan stalls
– Short arms make it hard for him to disengage from linemen on pass rush downs
– Most of his sacks are from second-effort and not technique-based
– Hand placement consistency can fluctuate
– Limited to playing as a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense or as an even front, run-plugging 1-tech
– Medical and injury concerns
– Play really dipped in 2025 after coming back from the ankle injury
– Will be 24 years old at the start of the season
STATS
– 34 career starts and has played in a total of 44 games in 5 years at Cincinnati University
– Career: 1,565 total snaps (1,258 A Gap, 279 B Gap, 20 over tackle)
– 123 total tackles (60 solo), 68 pressures, 17 TFL’s, 9.5 sacks, 1 batted pass, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles, 8 missed tackles, 68 run stops, 3 penalties
– 2025: Started in 10 games
– 13 total tackles (5 solo), 8 pressures, 0 TFLs, 0 sacks, 0 batted passes, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 forced fumbles, 2 missed tackles, 7 run stops, 2 penalties
INJURY HISTORY
– 2025: Suffered an ankle injury in the second half of the Bowling Green game (9/6/25) and subsequently missed two games
– Nov. 2024: Left the Iowa State game early with an unspecified injury
– June 2024: Corleone was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism on 6/14/24, a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot. He underwent a successful months-long recovery process and was cleared to resume football activities on 9/3/24, only missing one game
– 2022: Dealt with a knee injury all season, but didn’t miss a game
BACKGROUND
– DOB: 8/7/2002 (23 years old)
– 2026 Shrine Bowl invitee
– 1st-team All-Big 12 (2024)
– 1st-team All-AAC (2022)
– Two-time 2nd-team All-Big 12 (2023, 2025)
– From Cincinnati, OH, and attended Colerain H.S.
– Three-star consensus recruit according to 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN
– All-state selection his senior year
– Career totals of 137 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery
– Grew up 11 miles from the Cincinnati campus
– 1 of 4 children to a single mother
– Nicknamed “The Godfather” due to his surname
– Describes himself as an introvert who enjoys playing video games and has two French bulldogs
– Purchased a home near where he grew up with the NIL money he received
– Dream job is to work as a video game designer
– Participates in many community service projects and volunteers at local food shelters
– Became close with Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith after he received his blood clot diagnosis
– Three consecutive years as a team captain for the Cincinnati Bearcats
– Earned his bachelor’s degree in Dec. 2024
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Dontay Corleone AKA “The Godfather” emerged during his time in Cincinnati as one of the most disruptive interior defenders in college football thanks to his elite play, leverage, and first-step explosiveness for a compact nose tackle. He consistently wins with power and natural leverage rather than length or defined pass-rush variety. His profile projects best as an early-down tone-setter and run-game anchor with enough pocket-collapsing ability to remain useful on passing downs in the right scheme.
He can join an NFL team and immediately be a stalwart in the A gap in run defense situations. He’s a brick wall who gobbles up double teams and allows other players opportunities to shoot gaps. Corleone is #2 for Cincinnati in all of the following clips.
pic.twitter.com/HaiINsJflf
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 16, 2026
pic.twitter.com/skIiQQTj1h
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 16, 2026
He’s going to be especially useful in any big packages that counter against short-yardage run situations.
pic.twitter.com/yg5jdRlCkS
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 16, 2026
Corleone’s pass-rushing productivity results are a mixed bag. He showed dominant traits in 2024, like some of the clips you’ll see below. But he mostly does it with bull-rush moves, long arms, and second effort. He really doesn’t have a toolbox of moves he can access, but his bull rush is generally pretty effective because of his power profile.
pic.twitter.com/HfgOxlTi1b
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 16, 2026
pic.twitter.com/Avmxf7fX0j
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 16, 2026
pic.twitter.com/cE1wMbhdI1
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) February 16, 2026
CONCLUSION
After watching Corleone’s up-and-down film from his 4 years at Cincinnati, I definitely came away impressed by his run-defense projection to the NFL. His ultimate draft value and pro impact hinge on expanding his pass-rush sophistication and maintaining peak condition, but his baseline traits give him a high probability of carving out a role in the NFL.
Pittsburgh has moved away from utilizing a traditional nose tackle for a significant portion of its snaps on a per-game basis over the years. But its run defense could certainly use a boost of size, power, and explosiveness. Corleone projects as a seamless fit because he has pass-rush capability and upside. He also defends the run exceptionally well.
He reminds me a lot of what the Baltimore Ravens had in Michael Pierce. A short-armed, but extremely powerful nose plug in the middle of their defense, who gave them enough pass-rushing ability to earn meaningful snaps over time.
NFL Projection: Late Day 2-Early Day 3
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.7 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.2 – 8.0
Games Watched: vs. Nebraska (2025), vs Iowa State (2025), at Texas Tech (2024), vs West Virginia (2024)
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