Toledo Transfer RB Peny Boone Commits to Louisville

The MAC Offensive Player of the Year finished the 2023 season inside the top-10 nationally in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville football program has landed yet another impact transfer from out of the portal.

Former Toledo running back Peny Boone, who was the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, announced Friday night that he has committed to the Cardinals. He is coming off of a visit to campus, and had recently named Louisville to his top three schools along with Florida State and Kentucky.

The 6-foot-1, 245-pound power back was one of the most productive running backs this season not only among the Group of Five, but in all of college football. Playing in all 13 of Toledo's games with 10 starts, Boone ran for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns on 194 carries, while also catching 15 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Both his rushing total and 1,619 yards from scrimmage finished eighth in the FBS.

The Detroit, Mich. native spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Maryland, but was never more than a rotational piece. During his time with the Terrapins, he logged 58 carries for 258 yards and two touchdowns across 14 games played. Boone then opted to transfer to Toledo ahead of the 2022 season, where he rushed for 439 yards and three touchdowns in his first year with the Rockets.

Landing Boone is without a doubt a massive recruiting success for head coach Jeff Brohm and his staff. As of Jan. 5, Boone was regarded the No. 29 overall player to enter the portal in this cycle, according to On3. He's now the Cardinals' top transfer in their class, surpassing South Alabama wide receiver Caullin Lacy, who was No. 34.

Boone's commitment not only provides Louisville with their starting running back for next season, it addresses a much needed veteran presence in the running back room for Louisville. With both Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo heading to the NFL, it leaves just Maurice Turner and Keyjuan Brown as the only scholarship returners. Though the Cardinals do also bring in true freshmen Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, as well as Miami transfer Donald Chaney Jr.

Boone is the 17th player to transfer to Louisville in this cycle, and the second running back following Chaney. The Cardinals have also seen 17 scholarship players of their own enter the portal during the winter transfer window.

The Cardinals finished their 2023 season with an overall mark of 10-4 (7-1 in ACC) including a berth in the program's first ever ACC Championship Game, but ended year one under head coach Jeff Brohm on a three-game losing streak.

(Photo of Peny Boone: Lon Horwedel - USA TODAY Sports)

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