LOUISVILLE, KY: As of tonight, the Louisville football program has fulfilled three of its three transfer portal obligations. Running back Donald Chaney Jr., who attended Miami for his first four years of college, said on Saturday that he has committed to play for the Cardinals in his last season of eligibility. After former FIU defensive tackle Jordan Guerad and former NIU center Pete Nygra, he is the third portal commitment for the Cards tonight. In the past two days, he has committed five times. On Friday night, former Alabama wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks and former UCF cornerback Corey Thornton also made commitments.
Chaney played a crucial role in Miami’s 2023 running back by committee strategy. Seeing action in 11 of the Hurricanes’ 12 games, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound back had two starts and ran for 478 yards and two touchdowns on 94 attempts. Though he only trailed team leader Mark Fletcher Jr. by 101 yards, he ended up third on the team in rushing yards. In 2020, the Homestead, Florida native made a big impression on the Canes as a true freshman. During that season, he caught 11 passes for 143 yards and ran for 322 yards with three touchdowns on 68 carries.
But after sustaining a second lower body injury during fall camp, he was sidelined for just one game in 2022 after tearing his ACL just two games into the 2021 campaign. With Chaney’s pledge, Louisville will have a much-needed veteran presence in the running back room. With Isaac Guerendo graduating and Jawhar Jordan joining the NFL, the only scholarship returners remaining are Maurice Turner and Keyjuan Brown. Duke Watson and Isaac Brown, two true freshmen, are also added by the Cardinals.
In this cycle, Chaney is the tenth player to transfer to Louisville. He is also the fifth player with an offensive skill position, after tight ends Mark Redman and Tanner Koziol, quarterback Tyler Shough, and quarterback Brooks. Since the winter transfer window opened on December 4, nine scholarship athletes have also entered the portal for the Cardinals. On December 20, the first day of the early signing period, he is anticipated to sign. Under first-year head coach Jeff Brohm, Louisville finished 10-2 in the regular season and earned a spot in the ACC Championship Game. Now, the team is getting ready for their December 27 Holiday Bowl game against USC.
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