PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s got one of the coolest nicknames in college football and his game backs it up. Pitt faces ‘The Godfather’ on Saturday hosting Cincinnati at 6:30 on 93.7 The Fan.
6’2”, 318-pound defensive lineman Dontay Corleone was a Third Team All-American last season with the Bearcats with 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. He’s a preseason All-American for 2023 and mostly plays right over the nose.
“It’s a really great matchup,” said Pitt center Jake Kradel. “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been in the facility all week. I’m doing everything I can to mentally prepare for it and then be physically be ready for Saturday.”
“He’s a natural leverage guy,” said Pitt guard Black Zubovic. “He’s a little shorter dude, really strong, really thick. I think he gets his strike really well. We have to get our hands on him before he gets his hands on us. His strike is really powerful and it comes from a really low position. We got to play with leverage and strike before he can get his hands on us.”
He said it reminded him of practicing the last few years against first-round NFL draft pick Calijah Kancey. He said what he learned is they can’t let Corleone get inside their chest.
Corleone says he gets double-teamed a lot and could find a similar situation against the Panthers on Saturday. He says he hopes they have to put multiple bodies on him because he says then his fellow defensive linemen and linebackers can come free and make plays.
“They play a three-down front, he’s going to be mostly matched up against Kradel,” Zubovic said. “Definitely preparing for him in the run and pass game. They have a great defensive line all the way through. Excited for this matchup, it’s something we look forward to. This is the reason you play.”
In talking of Corleone, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi put his arms a couple of feet apart and said his thighs are that big. That he’s a large man, an All-American and that Kradel will have his hands full. Narduzzi trusts his sixth-year senior, that he’s faced tough players before and risen to the challenge.
“Jake is an experienced guy in there,” Narduzzi said. “Jake really wanted to do it. I think he has visions of being an NFL center someday. He’s really smart. He’s so smart and knows what he is doing.”
“We respect Pitt,” Corleone said. “They have a veteran O-line, veteran quarterback. We have to prepare the best we can so Saturday can be very easy on us.”
Kradel is hoping to make it very hard and he believes he’s put in the work to be prepared for The Godfather.
Saturday is not personal, it’s just business. Kradel is smart and he wants respect. He has a special practice. He is handling one client. If he does Saturday, this war stops now.
Panthers pregame starts at 3:30p with Bob Pompeani, Paul Zeise and Dorin Dickerson on 93.7 The Fan with Bill Hillgrove, Pat Bostick, Larry Richert and Dickerson bringing you the kickoff at 6:30p.