Miami football in contact with 2023 MAC Offensive POY, RB Peny Boone
The Miami football program has been in contact with former Toledo running back Peny Boone who was the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Boone transferred to Louisville in January and spent spring practice with the Cardinals before reentering the transfer portal earlier this week.
Miami is expected to add a transfer RB with projected starter Mark Fletcher uncertain for the beginning of the season with a Lisfranc (foot) injury. Miami is considered the leader for Oregon State star RB Damien Martinez. Miami is short on RBs after losing Tre'Vonte Citizen and Henry Parrish as transfers this week.
Other than Fletcher, Ajay Allen is the only other RB with significant snaps on the Miami roster. Miami also lost Don Chaney Jr. to Louisville after the 2023 season. Chris Johnson, who redshirted in 2023, returns for Miami at RB. Miami signed RBs Jordan Lyle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey in the 2024 class.
Boone ran for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns and had 15 receptions for 219 yards and another score in his second season with Toledo. Maryland signed Boone as a four-signee in the 2020 class who was the 359th prospect, 25th RB and 10th recruit in Michigan out of Detroit Martin Luther King.
2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone is considering a return to Louisville, a source tells @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 20, 2024
The running back has also been in contact with Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami, Ole Miss, Utah and Washington.
Details: https://t.co/GjnEr6pBKQ pic.twitter.com/AADu8ZTCY0
Boone ran for 258 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in his two seasons at Maryland. At 6'1 and 242 pounds, Boone is the type of big back Mario Cristobal usually covets. Fletcher is currently the biggest RB on the Miami roster at 6'2 and 225 pounds. Martinez is 6'0 and 232 pounds.
Miami wide receivers coach Kevin Beard was on the Toledo staff in Boone's first season with the Rockets in 2022. Miami's involvement with Boone could depend on what decision Martinez makes. The Hurricanes could add two experienced transfer RBs to hedge against Fletcher's injury.
Next. Oregon State transfer RB Damien Martinez sets Miami visit. Oregon State transfer RB Damien Martinez sets Miami visit. dark
Allen and Fletcher both missed spring practice with injuries. Allen will reportedly be ready for August training camp. Miami enters post spring practice with uncertainty at RB because of the injuries. Allen will likely play a prominent role and Lyle can have an impact as a freshman. The next few weeks will be critical for Miami at RB.