By Tony Thomas
The Louisville Cardinals are coming off a 10-4 record in 2023 and an appearance in the ACC title game, which ended in a 16-6 loss to Florida State. Jeff Brohm then went into the transfer portal and secured commitments from a whopping 26 players. Here we profile three transfers that will make an impact for Louisville this fall.
RB Peny Boone
Previous School: Toledo Rockets
6’2”, 225 lbs.
Filling a position of need for the Cardinals, Peny Boone has a nose for the end zone after scoring 15 touchdowns and rushing for 1,400 yards, averaging over seven yards per carry. He ranked #11 in the FBS averaging 107 rushing yards per game.
Boone will replace departing Jawhar Jordan (1,100+yards, 13 TDs in 2023) and will run behind a offensive line that projects to return two starters.
The 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Boone posted eight games of over 100 yards rushing, including five consecutive weeks over the century mark. Against Western Michigan, Boone left scorched earth and the bodies of would-be tacklers in his wake on his way to 211 yards rushing in a Rockets victory.
Twice last season, Boone scored three rushing touchdowns in a game. Boone recorded 116 receiving yards, in addition to those three rushing TDs, in a win over Eastern Michigan.
Edge Rusher Tyler Baron
Previous School: Tennessee Volunteers
6’5”, 260 lbs.
Tyler Baron comes to a Louisville defensive unit that, after a very early review of the projected 2024 depth chart, loses only three starters. The Cardinals ranked 21st in total defense and 10th in rushing defense last season.
Baron arrives from Rocky Top with 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and five quarterback pressures. In week one vs Virgnia, Baron totaled two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a Tennessee victory over the Cavaliers. Coach Brohm and his powers of persuasion were instrumental in flipping Baron from his early commitment to Ole Miss.
WR Caullin Lacy
Previous School: South Alabama Jaguars
5’10”, 190 lbs.
With only one returning starter at WR for the Cardinals in Chris Bell (407 yards, 2 TDs), Caullin Lacy most assuredly fills a position of need.
As a 1st Team All-Sun Belt selection last season, Lacy led the Jags with 91 catches for 1,316 yards, and seven touchdowns. He averaged 109 receiving yards per game, good enough for #3 in the FBS, and #1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Lacy posted eight games of over 100 yards receiving, including seven in a row. Six of Lacy’s TDs came during this stretch. A converted running back, Lacy can do it all on the gridiron and has 3,493 career all-purpose yards to his credit.
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