Gators Q&A: Defensive Lineman Justus Boone

during the Gators' game against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Maddie Washburn

Justus Boone during last week's SEC opener against Kentucky. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)

Gators Q&A: Defensive Lineman Justus Boone

Thursday, September 15, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The defensive line represented one of the big question marks for the Gators entering the season.

Those questions remain after two games, but there's no denying Florida's defensive front played better in the Week 2 loss to Kentucky than the Week 1 victory over Utah. The next question: how will the unit respond on Saturday night against USF.

One reason for optimism is redshirt freshman defensive end Justus Boone, a former basketball player from Sumter, S.C., who played in only two games as a freshman. Boone made one of Florida's most memorable plays against the Wildcats when he burst unimpeded across the line for a sack of quarterback Will Levis with Kentucky at UF's 30 on its second drive of the game.

Officials initially tossed flags to signal a targeting penalty on Boone. However, the replay determined Boone did not launch the crown of his helmet toward Levis' head and the drive ended with a Kentucky punt.

Boone finished with two tackles and his first career sack, one of three on the night for the Gators after they failed to record one in the win over the Utes.

"I don't want to say it was a preparation thing, but in a way, we were a little bit more prepared for Kentucky,'' Boone said. "I feel that we, as a team, as well as a defensive line room, we took our time to really like break down our pass rushes, our games and analyze who our opponents were and what kind of quarterback we were going against. So, I just felt like we saw that we didn't really get the kind of effort we wanted to or really the kind of statement we wanted to make the first game, so we had to make sure we did it the second."

Boone is among a young group of defensive linemen the Gators will need consistent production from for more performances like the one against the Wildcats.

Listed at 6-foot-3.75 and 260 pounds, Boone's performance against Kentucky — and his noteworthy sack — is one he hopes serves as an appetizer for what is to come.

For more from Boone, here is a Q&A following Wednesday's practice:

JUSTUS BOONE Q&A

Q: What did it feel like to have that clean shot at Kentucky quarterback Will Levis?

A: I want to say that's probably my first mindset anyway, playing D-end, trying to get a shot at the quarterback. But when I saw it available, my eyes lit up.

Q: What was it like to celebrate your first sack?

A: Well, for me personally, it's everything. Coming from last year, I didn't have too much playing time on the field. So for me being able to, my first full series on the field, to get a sack felt pretty good.

Q: What did you think when you saw the flag?

A: Oh lord, I thought they was gonna try to get me up out of there. I'm really thinking about not being able to be there for my team next week, if anything, and then not being able to finish the game.

Q: And what about when the flag was picked up?

A: Exactly as I did when I first got it.

Another look at that sack by Justus Boone. 💥

The #Gators are playing with a different level of aggressiveness this season. pic.twitter.com/e7Fl05ssrG
— Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) September 10, 2022

Q: Coach Napier said you have improved in every aspect of your life — what prompted the changes?

A: Well, like I previously said, last year I didn't get too much time on the field and get too much time to play against anyone. So, I really snapped into it last year, just to keep my head down, keep on working and keep on doing the things that matter. That's going to eventually pay off whenever it's time for me to play, and I've just been sharpening up everything since there.

Q: How does the defense rally not having senior linebacker Ventrell Miller (injured) on Saturday against USF?

A: As a team, we all have player accountability. We all depend on each other to communicate with each other. Like you said, Ventrell is one of the leaders on our defense and it will be a little setback with not having him. But like I also said, collectively as a team we all have player accountability, so we're gonna communicate and watch each other [like] we would if he was out there.

Q: When did you put the Kentucky loss behind you?

A: Me personally, I wouldn't say I've put it behind me. I don't think I've ever put a loss behind me. I just want to say that it put a chip on my shoulder to do better than I did last week, be more prepared than I was last week.

Q: How do you remain focused on USF?

A: Well, one thing I can refer back to with [co-defensive coordinator] Coach Spencer told me is that we don't disrespect or look down on any team we play. We always show respect, we always want to respect them because they're a college team like we're a college team. We're going to approach them the same way we'd approach anybody. That's putting our head down and working as if we're trying to get to the next game.

Q: Was the sack of Levis the biggest hit you've ever had in your life?

A: Nah, not the biggest, but it's close.

Q: Have you ever knocked off someone's helmet?

A: Yeah, actually, I did in my Senior Bowl game. I got a like a hit, but the backside got a chance to knock his head off, too.