Coming out of the 2022 season, Justus Boone was seen as a rising EDGE poised for a huge breakout year in 2023. As a redshirt freshman with Florida, Boone played nearly 300 snaps in 2022 and had 11 QB hurries to go along with 24 total tackles.
But then on the eve of the 2023 season, Boone tore his ACL and missed the entire year.
Despite rehabbing and coming back for 2024, Boone has never been able to regain the flash he showed in 2022. He transferred after 2024 to Arkansas, and he is now back in the transfer portal after the 2025 season.
Justus Boone to hit the transfer portal
There were high hopes ahead of the 2024 season that Boone would be a major addition to the defensive line for the Gators. Billy Napier had high hopes as well and stated ahead of 2024 that:
"I think Boone has been one of the best leaders we've had. Losing him last year was a big deal, not only because of his production on the field and the depth issue there but also just his passion, his ability to affect people."
But in the opener against Miami, Boone took an early roughing the passer call and it was clear he just wasn’t the same player as he was before his injury. Boone’s role was reduced as the season moved along, and he finished with just 138 snaps in 2024.
He transferred to Arkansas for the 2025 season and had a career high 445 snaps, but he had just one sack on the season and had a PFF grade of 54.8.
Arkansas is also breaking in a new coaching staff for the 2026 season, and Boone announced yesterday that he would be hitting the portal ahead of the new year. He would need a medical redshirt from the NCAA to be eligible for a 6th year of college football.