Kentucky closing in on Louisville transfer Peny Boone

Is Mark Stoops on the cusp of stealing Jeff Brohm’s prized running back away from Louisville? Kentucky has emerged as the top contender for Peny Boone, who is now down to the Wildcats and the Georgia Bulldogs with a decision looming.

The list cut comes following the star running back’s meeting with Kentucky on Monday, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Louisville transfer running back Peny Boone has cut his list of schools down to Georgia and Kentucky, his agent @BNM8k tells @On3sports.

The 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns.

More: https://t.co/Tm9JyuFkfM pic.twitter.com/fxeywzpezU

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 23, 2024

Shortly after the announcement, DawgsHQ insider Rusty Mansell reported he was “not expecting him in (Athens),” paving the path for Kentucky to land the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year.

The Louisville transfer entered the portal on April 15 and quickly scheduled visits to Washington and Ole Miss. The trip to Seattle was then canceled, and now, it appears the visit to Oxford is also off the table. Kentucky jumped into the race Monday, and now, it appears the Wildcats are in prime position to land the former Toledo star.

Boone is currently the No. 33 overall ranked player in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings and the No. 4 overall tailback. After spending his first two seasons at Maryland, Boone moved to Toledo and became a juggernaut in the MAC. The 230-pound running back rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023 on 7.0 yards per rush en route to MAC OPOTY honors before hitting the portal in December.

The standout transfer enrolled at Louisville for the spring semester before deciding it wasn’t a fit under Brohm. Now, Stoops is making a serious push to land him in Lexington.

UPDATE (3:10 PM ET): The RPMs are rolling in for Boone to Kentucky from On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos.

NEW: Louisville transfer RB Peny Boone has received expert predictions to land at Kentucky from On3's @SWiltfong_ & @PeteNakos_👀

Boone was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 at Toledo.

Intel: https://t.co/rnLwACuKQr pic.twitter.com/tg6DaJXYEP

— On3 (@On3sports) April 23, 2024

Kentucky Transfer Tracker

• Jalen Geiger (Entered on Nov. 27): Committed to Tulane on Jan. 6
• Izayah Cummings (Entered on Nov. 29): Committed to Louisville on Dec. 18
• Luke Fulton (Entered on Dec. 1): Committed to Kent State on Jan. 12
• Shamar Porter (Entered on Dec. 4): Withdrew from the transfer portal on Dec. 8
• Jamarius Dinkins (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Purdue on Dec. 10
• Destin Wade (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Colorado on Dec. 15
• Keaten Wade (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Colorado on Dec. 15
• JuTahn McClain (Entered on Dec. 4)
• Grant Bingham (Entered on Dec. 4)
• Dekel Crowdus (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Hawaii on Jan. 18
• Martez Thrower (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Georgia State on Jan. 6
• Kaiya Sheron (Entered on Dec. 5): Enrolled at UT Martin
• Jordan Dingle (Entered on Dec. 7): Withdrew from transfer portal on Dec. 16
• Elijah Reed (Entered on Dec. 11)
• Deuce Hogan (Entered on Dec. 30): Committed to New Mexico State on Jan. 6
• La’Vell Wright (Entered on April 10)
• Raymond Cottrell (Entered on April 16)
• Ardell Banks (Entered on April 22)
• Jackson Smith (Entered on April 22)
• Shamar Porter (Re-entered on April 22)
• Jaremiah Anglin (Entered on April 23)