The Pittsburgh Steelers met with several prospects at the 2025 Hula Bowl over the weekend, according to multiple media reports, including a pair of intriguing running backs.
The Steelers showed specific interest in Utah running back Micah Bernard and UCF running back Peny Boone at the game, which is generally seen as the No. 3 college all-star game, behind the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl, which will happen in the next two weeks.
Bernard is a 5-foot-10, 206-pound running back from Long Beach, California. The 23-year-old spent six seasons at Utah, redshirting in 2019 and playing in five games in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season before becoming a part-time starter in 2021-22, when he rushed for over 500 yards in consecutive seasons.
Bernard missed most of the 2023 season with injury before returning for his final season in 2024, which served as his breakout campaign.In 12 games with the Utes in 2024, Bernard rushed 197 times for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 150 yards and two more scores.
Boone is a 5-11 3/4, 231-pound running back that spent the 2024 season at UCF. A Detroit native nicknamed “Baby Bus,” — an homage to former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis — Boone also had stops at Maryland and Toledo. Boone was little-used in two seasons with the Terps in 2020-21 before transferring to Toledo, where he saw a big increase in playing time.
In 2022 with the Rockets, Boone rushed 115 times for 439 yards and three touchdowns. He broke out as a redshirt junior in 2023, rushing 194 times for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the MAC in yards, touchdowns and yards per carry.
He turned that performance into a transfer slot at Louisville, but re-entered the transfer portal four months later without ever appearing in a game for the Cardinals. Boone ended up at UCF, where he played just six games and recorded statistics in only five. Boone finished with 34 carries for 208 yards and two touchdowns for the Knights. He did not play after the Oct. 12 game against Cincinnati.
The Steelers are expected to show significant interest in running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. Starting back Najee Harris is slated to be an unrestricted free agent, backup Jaylen Warren is a restricted free agent, and third-stringer Cordarrelle Patterson will be 34 years old next year.
