'I'm Buying A House' - Dontay Corleone, Joe Royer Detail Desire to Run it Back With Bearcats Football in 2025

Cincinnati went 5-7 in 2024.

Miami Redhawks running back Kevin Davis (8) runs by Cincinnati Bearcats defensive tackle Dontay Corleone (2) in the first quarter of the College Football game at Yager Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. / Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati natives and impactful returnees took to the microphone for UC football on Thursday. Star defensive tackle Dontay Corleone and tight end Joe Royer are ready to finish what they started at this school.

They want to win in their hometown before realizing their professional dreams.

"Staying home and just building your foundation here, building a mark, building a legacy for here," Corleone said. "This offseason, I'm buying a house. Even with my dreams of going to the next level, I'm always gonna have a home here. And I just love this place. So I try to tell them [other players], like, 'You necessarily don't have to leave to go to the NFL. You can go to the NFL from Cincinnati.'"

Corleone had to deal with blood clots interrupting his summer and start to his 2024 season. Now, he gets to show his full strength on and off the field for his UC swan song that he spent a week thinking about before landing on a return.

"That's one of the main reasons why I came back, obviously, is to prove to everybody that I can play at a high level," Corleone said about the ailment he fought through. "What I had dealing with last year and going through a full offseason, and having a plan ... I do different types of extra work to be in top shape because I can't do some of the things necessarily. So he's [ the training staff] keeping me in top shape."

Royer would've had NFL interest as well, but he was almost always set on returning to Cincinnati in 2025, even before the 2024 campaign ended.

"It was a tough decision for a little bit, but I kind of knew right away this is where I wanted to be coming back for another year," Royer noted. "Just weighing my options out a little bit. But yeah, like Dontay said, as well. It was a no-brainer. And only being here for one year this past season, I wasn't ready to move on, and I wanted to give it another shot."

Royer set a UC single-season record by a tight end with 50 catches in 2024. He turned those into 522 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It amounted to a 65.4 overall PFF grade across 657 snaps.

Both players will be crucial parts of any Cincinnati football success this fall.

Bookmark Bearcats Talk for the latest news, breakdowns, and so much more. Check out our YouTube page as well, starting with the video below.

You May Also Like:

Watch: New Cincinnati Kicker Stephen Rusnak Introduces Himself to Fanbase

Cincinnati Lands First Offensive Skill Player Commitment in 2026 Class as Dadrien Waller Commits

Look: Cincinnati Offensive Linemen Luke Kandra, John Williams Lead Top Bench Press Results at 2025 NFL Combine

Look: Cincinnati Football's Betting Win Total Released For 2025 Season

Recruiting Roundup: 2025 Football Visits Flowing in Along With More Offers

Look: Top Cincinnati Recruit Shon Abaev Wins Florida 3A State Championship

Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Storylines: V. Kansas State Wildcats

Look: John Williams, Corey Kiner, And Luke Kandra Meet Up At 2025 NFL Combine

Cincinnati Bearcats Secondary Coaches Praise Team's 'Capacity For Work'

Watch: Wes Miller Previews Road Matchup Against No. 4 Houston

Tyson Veidt Updates Cincinnati's Defensive Line Injuries Ahead of Spring Practice

Scott Satterfield Explains Change to 'Spring Game' Structure in College Football

Look: Cincinnati Announces Open Spring Football Practice

NCAA Tournament Tracker: Cincinnati Back in The Bubble Mix Ahead of Toughest Opponent This Decade

Watch: Highlights From Cincinnati's Road Bout Against Iowa State, With Jizzle James Making UC Scoring History

Three Man Weave: Cincinnati Falls On The Road Against Iowa State

Cincinnati Cracks Top Five Schools For Three-Star 2026 Cornerback Kasmir Hicks

Cincinnati Football Adds Fifth Commitment in 2026 Class From Alabama Safety Xavier Starks

Wes Miller Updates Connor Hickman's Health, Previews Massive Iowa State Battle

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on Bearcats Talk all the time!

Follow Bearcats Talk on Twitter: @BearcatsTalk

Like Bearcats Talk on Facebook: Bearcats Talk