Back for 2024, Justus Boone is key for stabilizing Florida Football's defense

Last year it was expected that Justus Boone was going to be a key cog for the Florida Football defense. He had a solid 2022 campaign as a true sophomore and had all the buzz in the world for a breakout 2023 season.

Then, he tore his ACL during training camp and was out for the season.

Back for 2024, the Gators are hoping for a big splash from Boone to bolster an EDGE group that is low on depth heading into the season.

Florida Football: Guess Who's Back? Back Again?

In 2022, Boone played 282 total snaps. On Florida's defense, Pro Football Focus graded him as the 5th best defender for the Gators.

And when comparing him against the rest of the country in 2022, Boone more than held his own. He had a "win rate" on pass rush attempts of 11.2%. Of the 481 defensive ends nationally with at least 100 pass rush attempts in 2022, Boone was 172nd, good for 65th percentile in the country. Among sophomores from that year with the same criteria, he was 52nd out of 190.

Part of why Florida was 88th in sacks per game and 72nd in sack percentage in 2023 was outside of Princely Umanmielen, who was 27th in the country out of 478 in "win rate" in 2023, the Gators had no one else capable of getting to the QB with any consistency.

Billy Napier noted at his press conference the importance of getting Boone back for the 2024 season.

"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"

- Billy Napier

He also touched on the leadership ability that both Boone and Tyreak Sapp are bringing to the team during camp.

"Sapp and Boone were here when we first got here and both have been awesome and they have great practice habits, they bring energy, they've got personality that I think rubs off on the team and the group, and they do just that, those two have been in the trenches together for a couple of years, now, right, so they're doing a good job, and the reality is they're competing, they're in the scenarios where they are competing so both of those guys are two of our guys that are providing good example, they have character, and we need more of them."

- Billy Napier

With Umanmielen gone to Ole Miss, the Gators are going to need Boone to step up and fulfill the potential many felt he had after the 2022 season. If he can do that, it will go a long way in stabilizing Florida's defense.