LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The University of Louisville football program has added another impact transfer from the portal. Former Toledo running back Peny Boone, the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, revealed his commitment to the Cardinals on Friday night. He just visited campus and put Louisville, along with Florida State and Kentucky, to his top three colleges. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound power back was one of the most prolific rushing backs in caollege football this season, not just in the Group of Five. Boone appeared in all 13 of Toledo’s games, starting 10, and rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns on 194 attempts. He also caught 15 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. His 1,619 yards from scrimmage and 1,619 yards rushing ranked ninth in the FBS.
The Detroit, Michigan native played at Maryland for the first two years of his collegiate career, but was never more than a rotational component. During his 14 games with the Terrapins, he had 58 carries for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Boone then chose to transfer ahead of the 2022 season to Toledo, where he carried for 439 yards and three touchdowns in his first year with the Rockets. Landing Boone is an undeniable recruiting accomplishment for head coach Jeff Brohm and his staff. According to On3, as of Jan. 5, Boone was rated as the No. 29 overall player to enter the portal this cycle. He has surpassed South Alabama wide receiver Caullin Lacy, who was No. 34 in the Cardinals’ transfer class. Boone’s commitment not only secures Louisville’s starting running back for next season, but it also addresses a much-needed veteran presence in the running back room. With both Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo off to the NFL, the only scholarship returners are Maurice Turner and Keyjuan Brown. Despite this, the Cardinals have added true freshman Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, as well as Miami transfer Donald Chaney Jr.
Boone is the 17th player in this cycle to transfer to Louisville, and the second running back after Chaney. During the winter transfer window, the Cardinals also had 17 scholarship athletes enter the portal. The Cardinals finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 10-4 (7-1 in the ACC), including a berth in the program’s first-ever ACC Championship Game, but ended the year on a three-game losing streak under head coach Jeff Brohm.
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