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Among the biggest shoes to fill entering the 2007 season were those of punter Jeremy Kapinos, who was a finalist for the 2006 Ray Guy Award and an Associated Press third-team All-American. But, in his first game, Jeremy Boone delivered an impressive performance to dispel any anxiety en route to an outstanding season. He averaged 47.4 yards on five punts against Florida International, including three kicks of more than 50 yards, and the first of many punts to be downed inside the 20-yard line. As the season progressed, Boone would launch punts of 68 and 70 yards and pin the opposition inside the 20 on 25 of his 59 kicks en route to first-team All-Big Ten recognition by the coaches and media. Boone, who has credited Kapinos for much of his success, averaged 43.0 yards on his 59 punts, which was the third-best figure in school season history. Blessed with a strong leg and the ability to get the ball high in the air, he led the Big Ten and was 19th in the nation. Thanks to the efforts of the hard-working and dedicated Boone and the punt coverage unit, Penn State led the Big Ten and was No. 3 in the nation in net punting at 39.4 yards per kick. He is a probable Ray Guy Award and post-season honors candidate. Boone is one of the squad's most out-going and service-oriented members, participating in the THON Make-A-Wish program, Pennsylvania Special Olympics State Summer Games, Habitat for Humanity and other events. An all-state player from Mechanicsburg HS, Boone made the Dean's List during the 2008 spring semester with an outstanding 3.93 grade-point average and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors last year. He owned a 3.45 GPA through the spring semester and is a potential ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America candidate. Boone, who came to Penn State as a walk-on, plays a critical role in the success of the Nittany Lion defense and has a very promising future.
2007 Junior Season
Boone earned the starting assignment in the spring and emerged as one of the nation's top punters. Playing in every game, he averaged 43.0 yards on his 59 punts, which was the third-best figure in Penn State season history. He led the Big Ten in punting and was 19th in the nation, earning first-team all-conference honors from the coaches and media. Only five of his punts resulted in a touchback and he dropped 25 punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line. The Nittany Lions' opponents' averaged just 5.3 yards on 20 punt returns. Thanks to the efforts of Boone and the punt coverage unit, Penn State led the Big Ten and was No. 3 in the nation in net punting at 41.1 yards per kick. In his first game, Boone averaged 47.4 yards on five punts against Florida International, including three kicks of more than 50 yards, with a long of 54 yards and the first of many punts to be downed inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 43.2 yards on six punts in the 31-10 win over Notre Dame, with two downed inside the 20. At Illinois, Boone knocked four punts for a 48.2 average, including a career-best 70-yarder, which tied for seventh-longest in school history. In the 27-7 win over Iowa, he averaged 44.8 yards on five punts, including three kicks downed inside the 20. On five punts at Indiana, Boone averaged 45.2 yards. He delivered a 68-yard effort in the final minutes, with the kick being downed at the Hoosiers' five in the big road win. The punt was tied for 12th-longest in Penn State annals. In the Senior Day win over Purdue, four of his kicks landed inside the 20. Against Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl, Boone averaged 51.4 yards on five kicks, with a long of 55 yards, to break the school punting average record in a bowl game. The previous mark was a 51.0 average by Chris Clauss in the 1988 Citrus Bowl against Clemson. Boone made the Dean's List during the 2007 spring semester and earned Academic All-Big Ten and Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars honors.
2006 Sophomore Season
Boone continued to work hard and improve, but did not see any game action as the top reserve to senior Jeremy Kapinos, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and a third-team All-American.
2005 Freshman Season
Redshirt season
High School
Boone was a versatile and accomplished athlete at Mechanicsburg Area Senior HS, playing football, baseball, and basketball. A two-year starter for Coach Rich Lichtel on the gridiron, he not only punted, but also played receiver and safety. In his senior season, he was named an all-state punter, while also making 84 catches for 1,080 yards and six touchdowns. He recorded 44 tackles and four interceptions as a safety, helping the Wildcats' run to the district championship game. Boone was named to the all-conference teams in all three sports, was the Most Valuable Player on the baseball team and served as team captain of the basketball and baseball teams.
Personal
Full name is Jeremy Allen Boone. He is the son of David and Sylvia Boone and has an older brother, Shawn, and an older sister, Kimberly. He is enrolled in the College of Education and would like to be a teacher. He enjoys traveling and spending time with friends. Born September 15, 1986.
