December 12, 2024 • 9 mins
Dontay Corleone announced this week that's he's returning for one more season at UC. "The Godfather" joined us on ESPN1530.
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
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Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Speaking of cole Rain, it's the home of the godfather
Dante Corleone, who I wish was here, but the UC
star announced earlier this week he is coming back to
play for the University of Cincinnati one more year of
college football in Clifton, and let's be honest, hopefully a
better season in twenty twenty five. Kind enough to give
us some time on the phone this afternoon, Dante's it's
(00:22):
great to have you.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I know you gave this decision a lot of thought.
Walk us through, if you will, some of the determining
factors and making your decision to come back and play
for the Bearcats next year.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, you know, you always improve in draft stock. And
also just me and coach Nico Brandon, coach Garcia are
some coaches. We set out a good game plan for
me to get it back into top shape. That's another
determining factor, so I can meet the best shape coming
out next year. So those are a big factors for
me to.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Come out obviously come back this year. Yeah, you mentioned
improving your draft stock. What kind of feedback have you
gotten that in that regod.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, it's you know, it's it's unknown about my uh my,
my health so that's another thing. I want to prove
that I can go back to back years what to
healthcare and improve my stock for that, because you know,
if people don't, I don't think people want to take
an opportunity because they don't know if I can be
healthy all year. So that's another determined factor.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I've I've got to think, as we talked about the
coming months, you are looking forward to more than anything,
having a normal off season after what you went through
last year.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, it's just missing four weeks to off season is huge.
Then I was just trying to catch up the rest
of the year.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
How hard was that to get caught up during the
season while you're trying to win games?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, you know, especially playing position I played, like being
double team, triple team. It's not it's not easy to
have to do, not being in the best shape of
your life. So it was really like improving every week.
And I want to thank coach Garcia for helping me
get in shape.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So it's a normal off season for you, at least
last year was not walk us through what the coming
weeks and months are going to be like.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Uh, just just working hard, like just doing all the
exit I can do to become a pro. I'm working
on being a protus here. That's my mindset, and also
just becoming a better man outside, being more mature, taking
care of my body, the small things like that.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I've got to imagine. You know, your teammate Brendan Soresby
announced he was coming back and he used the term
unfinished business. I've I've got to think with the way
this past season ended after such a promising start, that
that had to be a part of what went into
your thinking about coming back to Uce. Is that correct, sir?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
You know, sar as the respect my wishes. You know,
I took a week off before I made my decision,
and he was behind me one undred percent if I
left or came back. So and he also won our
foundation pieces coming out the portal last year. A great,
great leader, great quarterback, and he just he's just coming
on a rise. You know, he's gonna get better. He's
gonna become a better man, hopefully become a team captain
(03:06):
this year and lead us.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
How much did you talk to teammates about this decision
as you were weighing the pros and cons of staying.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I really kind of stayed away from like teammates, just me,
my mom, and my uncle, and we just talked about
like and also my position. Coach coach too. I talked
to him and we sat down for like thirty minutes
to an hour, and we talked about the pros and
cons and I think that led me to like make
my decision. So I appreciate coach too, respecting my wishes
(03:36):
and he let me take the time off. So that's
why I appreciate this closing staff because they didn't rush me.
They didn't they didn't try to force me to sign
any agreement they wanted best for me.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know, this season, you know I mentioned before you
guys were five and two, and we all know how
things unfolded toward the end of the year. What has
to happen with this program for us to be talking
about UC football playing in the postseason a year from now.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, And I think I'm going to my guys this,
when we come back and break, we have to finish.
That's got to be our model. This year's tennis, I
can I could think of five games in a row
that we didn't finish it and then cost us and
it caught up to us necessarily towards the end of
the year, So we got to work on being finishing
the close games because if we want to close games,
we're going to be in a bowl game. We want
(04:19):
to be in a championship game, so we gotta work
on finishing games.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Are there parts of your game itself that you would
have focused on? I guess the first would be maybe
next year you don't get nearly as many double teams,
although I can't imagine most teams are gonna are gonna
are gonna put one blocker on you. But but are
there parts of your game individually that you go you
know what this offseason I would have worked on and
I want to sharpen going into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, I think my presence went out this year. But
also just all I have to always improve in my
pass rush. I think that's always going to be the
main focus every off season for me because if I
have that, I had to be a three down guy.
As of right now, finis casting, I'm a two down guy.
So I gotta work on my pass rush staying low
and I'm just working on new moves in the past game.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
How do you do that during the off season, Uh, just.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Work on the drills. Like constantly be consistent on everything
you do, like every like you can, you can work
on it. You've got nothing else to do in the
off season, so it's like you got enough time to
set aside, like put the game down. You don't got
to hang out with teammates. You can always do an
extra So and I got a game, a great game
time coming up this off season with coach g our
shrimp coach, our assistant shrimp coach and me and him
(05:29):
got a lot plan to keep me in shape and
also just work on a small drill so I can
get better.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
So you announced your coming back, and then I think
within twenty four hours of that, Gavin Gerhard announces he
is coming back. Was that sort of a all right,
we can't live without knocking against each other in practice
for another year.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Now Gavin is my guy. But also we just compete
every day making we make each other better. And Gavin
is one of the best centers in the Big twelve.
So I'm glad he's coming back. And just he's the
team captain also, so you can't beat a team captain
coming get that leadership are not president from O on.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I mean, you guys, by the end of this are
gonna be sort of like an old married couple.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Yeah, I know. I just felt like I just came
in yesterday going against thee and now we business six
year singers.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Beyond the football part of it, you know, I mean,
you've you've got the school part. You've you've got you've
got to getting ready for the season. Is there anything
else you're looking forward to doing this offseason?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Yeah? The business side of it. I want I want
to buy a house. I want to invest and stuff
like that. So we have a great collective and Ken
Tracy and Cincy Range and Brian Fox and them guys.
It's just not handing enough money. They also teaching that thing.
They also call him us out we do something like crazy,
like they gonna they're gonna they're not gonna hold our hands,
(06:45):
but they also gonna teach us. So I think our
collective is one of the best because it's just not
having enough money. They also want to teach about the
business side of it. So it's just me not buying
a house, me learnning behind the scenes of getting the house.
So once I get more money or whatever, doing the
next level, I can pass it on to the next person.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
What have you learned about the business side of college
and for that matter, pro football.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, just taxes and all that type of stuff, and
all of those things like if you make so much money,
you're not necessarily getting that number. It's gonna be they're
gonna tax you on it. So I'm just learning all
them things. And then just just that just knowing that
is just taking releaf off of your shoulder. So when
you go to the next level, you're just not surprised.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Are you following along with the comings and goings? You know,
obviously the coaching staff and the front office, the general
manager Zach Grant are trying to make the roster better,
and then that involves bringing in a lot of kids
from other programs for visits and stuff like that. Are
you following or involved in all in that process?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah? Fuck, you have to be, especially for me towards
by Gavin get Hard and guys. You just can't bring
it anybody because nowadays this year, uh now, this type
of generation far as the transport polo, like, if you
bring anybody like he just just gonna be cancer in
the locker room and we can't afford to have that.
So we got to make sure we're bringing the right guys.
You know, sometimes I said, no, the Zach and Jack
(08:07):
and recruiting guys, like we cannot bring this guyant even
though he's won of the most talented guys in the country,
and cannot bring him that. It just got they have
to be a people's person. Like we had a great
set of transfer coort of guys like Sowersby and Team Wigan, Wilson,
this guys that like former team captains. Like that's big.
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's interesting because I felt like two years ago coach
Sadderfield's first year, the first year in the Big Twelve,
it felt to me like as the season unfolded, things
splintered a little bit. I know, the season didn't go
the way you would have preferred from a wins and
losses perspective, but I didn't get the same sense this
past year. Would that be accurate?
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, because we got were of the people that was
being in cancer, so we was bringing in the right
people and it was less fighting. It was more connected,
like people playing stage in the locker room, like he
don't see that every day and everybody locker room. Everybody
just gonna go home or do something, but no over
each other. Apartments and hanging out, also getting people rise
(09:03):
to practice, like small things like that, Like we're still
a family. Even though some of the singers left this year,
You've still got some great guys coming back. And just
that presence of that leadership and then that family bond
we got, like we're gonna go out together, we're gonna
win together, we don'na lose together. So that's how our
model is.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, as a Bearcat fan, it's awesome that you're coming back.
Cannot wait to watch the offseason unfold and hopefully when
the season begins you have reaped the benefits from all
the work that you're going to do this offseason. I
cannot thank you enough for joining us, and best of
luck in the coming months. Dante, much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Thank you,
Speaking of cole Rain, it's the home of the godfather
Dante Corleone, who I wish was here, but the UC
star announced earlier this week he is coming back to
play for the University of Cincinnati one more year of
college football in Clifton, and let's be honest, hopefully a
better season in twenty twenty five. Kind enough to give
us some time on the phone this afternoon, Dante's it's
(00:22):
great to have you.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I know you gave this decision a lot of thought.
Walk us through, if you will, some of the determining
factors and making your decision to come back and play
for the Bearcats next year.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, you know, you always improve in draft stock. And
also just me and coach Nico Brandon, coach Garcia are
some coaches. We set out a good game plan for
me to get it back into top shape. That's another
determining factor, so I can meet the best shape coming
out next year. So those are a big factors for
me to.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Come out obviously come back this year. Yeah, you mentioned
improving your draft stock. What kind of feedback have you
gotten that in that regod.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, it's you know, it's it's unknown about my uh my,
my health so that's another thing. I want to prove
that I can go back to back years what to
healthcare and improve my stock for that, because you know,
if people don't, I don't think people want to take
an opportunity because they don't know if I can be
healthy all year. So that's another determined factor.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I've I've got to think, as we talked about the
coming months, you are looking forward to more than anything,
having a normal off season after what you went through
last year.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, it's just missing four weeks to off season is huge.
Then I was just trying to catch up the rest
of the year.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
How hard was that to get caught up during the
season while you're trying to win games?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, you know, especially playing position I played, like being
double team, triple team. It's not it's not easy to
have to do, not being in the best shape of
your life. So it was really like improving every week.
And I want to thank coach Garcia for helping me
get in shape.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So it's a normal off season for you, at least
last year was not walk us through what the coming
weeks and months are going to be like.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Uh, just just working hard, like just doing all the
exit I can do to become a pro. I'm working
on being a protus here. That's my mindset, and also
just becoming a better man outside, being more mature, taking
care of my body, the small things like that.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I've got to imagine. You know, your teammate Brendan Soresby
announced he was coming back and he used the term
unfinished business. I've I've got to think with the way
this past season ended after such a promising start, that
that had to be a part of what went into
your thinking about coming back to Uce. Is that correct, sir?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
You know, sar as the respect my wishes. You know,
I took a week off before I made my decision,
and he was behind me one undred percent if I
left or came back. So and he also won our
foundation pieces coming out the portal last year. A great,
great leader, great quarterback, and he just he's just coming
on a rise. You know, he's gonna get better. He's
gonna become a better man, hopefully become a team captain
(03:06):
this year and lead us.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
How much did you talk to teammates about this decision
as you were weighing the pros and cons of staying.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I really kind of stayed away from like teammates, just me,
my mom, and my uncle, and we just talked about
like and also my position. Coach coach too. I talked
to him and we sat down for like thirty minutes
to an hour, and we talked about the pros and
cons and I think that led me to like make
my decision. So I appreciate coach too, respecting my wishes
(03:36):
and he let me take the time off. So that's
why I appreciate this closing staff because they didn't rush me.
They didn't they didn't try to force me to sign
any agreement they wanted best for me.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
You know, this season, you know I mentioned before you
guys were five and two, and we all know how
things unfolded toward the end of the year. What has
to happen with this program for us to be talking
about UC football playing in the postseason a year from now.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, And I think I'm going to my guys this,
when we come back and break, we have to finish.
That's got to be our model. This year's tennis, I
can I could think of five games in a row
that we didn't finish it and then cost us and
it caught up to us necessarily towards the end of
the year, So we got to work on being finishing
the close games because if we want to close games,
we're going to be in a bowl game. We want
(04:19):
to be in a championship game, so we gotta work
on finishing games.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Are there parts of your game itself that you would
have focused on? I guess the first would be maybe
next year you don't get nearly as many double teams,
although I can't imagine most teams are gonna are gonna
are gonna put one blocker on you. But but are
there parts of your game individually that you go you
know what this offseason I would have worked on and
I want to sharpen going into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, I think my presence went out this year. But
also just all I have to always improve in my
pass rush. I think that's always going to be the
main focus every off season for me because if I
have that, I had to be a three down guy.
As of right now, finis casting, I'm a two down guy.
So I gotta work on my pass rush staying low
and I'm just working on new moves in the past game.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
How do you do that during the off season, Uh, just.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Work on the drills. Like constantly be consistent on everything
you do, like every like you can, you can work
on it. You've got nothing else to do in the
off season, so it's like you got enough time to
set aside, like put the game down. You don't got
to hang out with teammates. You can always do an
extra So and I got a game, a great game
time coming up this off season with coach g our
shrimp coach, our assistant shrimp coach and me and him
(05:29):
got a lot plan to keep me in shape and
also just work on a small drill so I can
get better.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
So you announced your coming back, and then I think
within twenty four hours of that, Gavin Gerhard announces he
is coming back. Was that sort of a all right,
we can't live without knocking against each other in practice
for another year.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Now Gavin is my guy. But also we just compete
every day making we make each other better. And Gavin
is one of the best centers in the Big twelve.
So I'm glad he's coming back. And just he's the
team captain also, so you can't beat a team captain
coming get that leadership are not president from O on.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I mean, you guys, by the end of this are
gonna be sort of like an old married couple.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Yeah, I know. I just felt like I just came
in yesterday going against thee and now we business six
year singers.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Beyond the football part of it, you know, I mean,
you've you've got the school part. You've you've got you've
got to getting ready for the season. Is there anything
else you're looking forward to doing this offseason?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Yeah? The business side of it. I want I want
to buy a house. I want to invest and stuff
like that. So we have a great collective and Ken
Tracy and Cincy Range and Brian Fox and them guys.
It's just not handing enough money. They also teaching that thing.
They also call him us out we do something like crazy,
like they gonna they're gonna they're not gonna hold our hands,
(06:45):
but they also gonna teach us. So I think our
collective is one of the best because it's just not
having enough money. They also want to teach about the
business side of it. So it's just me not buying
a house, me learnning behind the scenes of getting the house.
So once I get more money or whatever, doing the
next level, I can pass it on to the next person.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
What have you learned about the business side of college
and for that matter, pro football.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, just taxes and all that type of stuff, and
all of those things like if you make so much money,
you're not necessarily getting that number. It's gonna be they're
gonna tax you on it. So I'm just learning all
them things. And then just just that just knowing that
is just taking releaf off of your shoulder. So when
you go to the next level, you're just not surprised.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Are you following along with the comings and goings? You know,
obviously the coaching staff and the front office, the general
manager Zach Grant are trying to make the roster better,
and then that involves bringing in a lot of kids
from other programs for visits and stuff like that. Are
you following or involved in all in that process?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah? Fuck, you have to be, especially for me towards
by Gavin get Hard and guys. You just can't bring
it anybody because nowadays this year, uh now, this type
of generation far as the transport polo, like, if you
bring anybody like he just just gonna be cancer in
the locker room and we can't afford to have that.
So we got to make sure we're bringing the right guys.
You know, sometimes I said, no, the Zach and Jack
(08:07):
and recruiting guys, like we cannot bring this guyant even
though he's won of the most talented guys in the country,
and cannot bring him that. It just got they have
to be a people's person. Like we had a great
set of transfer coort of guys like Sowersby and Team Wigan, Wilson,
this guys that like former team captains. Like that's big.
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's interesting because I felt like two years ago coach
Sadderfield's first year, the first year in the Big Twelve,
it felt to me like as the season unfolded, things
splintered a little bit. I know, the season didn't go
the way you would have preferred from a wins and
losses perspective, but I didn't get the same sense this
past year. Would that be accurate?
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, because we got were of the people that was
being in cancer, so we was bringing in the right
people and it was less fighting. It was more connected,
like people playing stage in the locker room, like he
don't see that every day and everybody locker room. Everybody
just gonna go home or do something, but no over
each other. Apartments and hanging out, also getting people rise
(09:03):
to practice, like small things like that, Like we're still
a family. Even though some of the singers left this year,
You've still got some great guys coming back. And just
that presence of that leadership and then that family bond
we got, like we're gonna go out together, we're gonna
win together, we don'na lose together. So that's how our
model is.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, as a Bearcat fan, it's awesome that you're coming back.
Cannot wait to watch the offseason unfold and hopefully when
the season begins you have reaped the benefits from all
the work that you're going to do this offseason. I
cannot thank you enough for joining us, and best of
luck in the coming months. Dante, much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Thank you,
Mo Egger News
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