Dontay Corleone DT Cincinnati | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Dontay Corleone DT Cincinnati
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: NT 0-TECH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.10 seconds (52%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: NT 0-TECH | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 5.10 seconds (52%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 84.6 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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65% |
| Pass Rush: |
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72% |
| Run Defense: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#84
Position rank:
#19
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| College Games: 34 College Snaps: 1214 | ||
ESPN RATING: 72/100
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247 RATING: 84/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Phillips - Maryland |
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78% |
| Joshua Farmer - Florida State |
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78% |
| JJ Pegues - Ole Miss |
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76% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Dontay Corleone, known as "The Godfather," is a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle from the University of Cincinnati. Born on August 7, 2002, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Corleone grew up as one of four children raised by a single mother. His journey from a three-star high school prospect to a dominant force on the Bearcats' defensive line is a testament to his work ethic and determination.Corleone's college career took off in 2022 after redshirting his first year. He emerged as Cincinnati's top lineman, recording 44 tackles and two forced fumbles. His breakout performance earned him All-AAC first team honors and freshman All-American recognition from several media outlets. Corleone's loyalty to Cincinnati was evident when he chose to stay with the program following coach Luke Fickell's departure to Wisconsin.
In 2023, Corleone continued to dominate, amassing 39 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, and one forced fumble. His outstanding play garnered him Second Team All-Big 12 accolades and solidified his status as one of the nation's top nose tackles.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super athletic - Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List at #16. He Wrote: "His power is something special. He benches 485, squats 605 and deadlifts 700. He also can really move, clocking 18 MPH on the GPS and running a 4.68 pro shuttle. The only defensive tackle over 300 pounds at the combine with a faster shuttle this year was Wisconsin’s 309-pound Keeanu Benton, who ran a 4.65. "
- Exceptional power at the point of attack, consistently driving blockers back and collapsing the pocket with a bull rush
- Displays excellent leverage and pad level, allowing him to anchor against double teams and control gaps in the run game
- Quick first step for his size, enabling him to penetrate and disrupt plays in the backfield
- Strong hands and violent punch to shed blocks and disengage from offensive linemen
- High motor player who pursues plays sideline to sideline and shows good stamina for a big man
- Versatile defender capable of playing multiple techniques along the defensive line
- Impressive production as a run defender, consistently making plays at or behind the line of scrimmage
- Shows potential as an interior pass rusher with his combination of power and quickness
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Relatively limited starting experience with only two full seasons as a starter at the collegiate level
- Can occasionally play with high pad level, negating his natural leverage advantage against interior offensive linemen
- Pass rush repertoire needs expansion beyond the bull rush to become a more consistent threat on passing downs
- Sometimes struggles to disengage quickly when initially stalemated at the line of scrimmage
- May need to improve conditioning to handle a full NFL workload and maintain effectiveness throughout games
Scouting Report: Summary
Dontay Corleone projects as a high-impact defensive tackle at the next level, with the potential to become a cornerstone of an NFL defensive line. His exceptional strength, leverage, and quickness make him an ideal fit for teams running a 3-4 defense as a nose tackle or as a 1-technique in a 4-3 scheme. Corleone's ability to anchor against the run and collapse the pocket will be highly valued by NFL teams looking to shore up their interior defensive line.While he may need time to develop a more diverse pass-rushing skill set, Corleone's natural power and motor suggest he can contribute immediately as a run-stuffer and grow into a three-down player. His work ethic and rapid improvement throughout his college career indicate a high ceiling for further development.
Given his production, physical traits, and room for growth, Corleone could hear his name called as early as the second round of the NFL Draft. His impact may be immediate in early-down and short-yardage situations, with the potential to develop into an every-down interior defender as he refines his technique and expands his pass-rushing arsenal.
Written By:
Andrew Moore (The American)
How other scouting services rate Dontay Corleone (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
77.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
17.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.