Louisville transfer Peny Boone lands at UCF

Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King product Peny Boone has had a wild ride. After the former four-star recruit began his career at Maryland, the big tailback became a star as a redshirt junior at Toledo in 2023 rushing for 1,400 yards, 15 touchdowns, and earning MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Things got tricky after that.

After entering the transfer portal during the winter window, Peny Boone landed at Louisville and was set to be the next lead tailback for Jeff Brohm after Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo each became Day 3 draft picks. However, that relationship did not last long after Boone entered the transfer portal again before Louisville’s spring practice ended.

Upon the move, Kentucky quickly emerged as the favorite to land Peny Boone and hosted the redshirt senior on an official visit. All signs pointed to Boone joining the other side of the Governor’s Cup rivalry until a credits issue would not allow the tailback to gain acceptance into the University of Kentucky. Boone then had to pivot again.

The long transfer portal recruitment finally ended on Wednesday. Peny Boone has landed in the Big 12.

The tailback quickly committed to continue his playing career at UCF after visiting Orlando this week. With Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson taking over at quarterback and tailback RJ Harvey (1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns) returning for the Knights, all of the pieces are in place for Gus Malzahn‘s offense to field one of the best rushing attacks in college football.

Kentucky currently sits with five scholarship tailbacks on the roster after failing to land Damien Martinez and Peny Bone in the spring transfer portal.

Kentucky Football Departures in the Spring Transfer Portal

Since the conclusion of Kentucky spring practice, eight former scholarship players have entered the transfer portal.

• DB Jordan Robinson (Entered transfer portal on April 24)
• DB Jaremiah Anglin (Entered transfer portal on April 23): Committed to Pittsburgh on April 28
• WR Shamar Porter (Entered transfer portal on April 22)
• P/K Jackson Smith (Entered transfer portal on April 22)
• WR Ardell Banks (Entered transfer portal on April 22)
• WR Raymond Cottrell (Entered transfer portal on April 16)
• WR Cole Lanter (Entered transfer portal on April 16)
• RB La’Vell Wright (Entered transfer portal on April 10): Committed to Austin Peay on April 24

In addition to KSR’s Transfer Portal Tracker, you can follow every move around college football with On3’s Transfer Portal wire and by following On3’s Transfer Portal account on Twitter/X.