Billy Napier: Gators Edge Rusher Justus Boone Suffers Torn ACL
Florida Gators edge rusher Justus Boone tore his ACL during the first scrimmage of fall camp on Thursday, head coach Billy Napier shared during his media availability Friday.
Boone is slated to undergo surgery in the next two weeks.
"We're going to rally around Boone," Napier said. "You know, there's a ton of success stories in this game of players who've had this injury and have went through the return to play and rehab process and come back and had significant success. So, you know, I think all Gators need to lift up our boy Boone today. You know, he's one of the best ones we have."
Napier added that Boone went down with the injury celebrating post-play during the scrimmage. He's expected to miss a considerable amount of time while he rehabilitates the injury as a result.
Boone was slated to take on a voluminous role in the Gators' defense in 2023 as an 'F' end in the newly reconstructed edge rushers unit under Mike Peterson.
Appearing in fifteen games over two seasons, with two starts in the process, Boone produced as a quality reserve piece for Florida off the edge. He saw action in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman, compiling 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
The Gators felt comfortable with Boone moving forward as a feature piece off the edge in 2023.
Napier, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, is hopeful for the team to rally around the Sumter, S.C., native as he's served as a leader for the defensive line, defense and team as a whole dating back to the current staff's arrival in Gainesville.
"I would tell you this is one of the more challenging parts of the job for me, relative to having a great relationship with a young man and then observing him work and change his life as a person and as a football player," Napier said on Friday.
"And, not just production on the field that Boone brings to our team, but more importantly, his presence as a leader. I do this will galvanize our team. I think this is a guy they really love and care about and will want to do their part to make up for his absence on the field. I think we have that level of respect and accountability amongst our players and team."
Now, Florida will begin to evaluate the talent in the room for Boone's replacement.
Princely Umanmielen, Jack Pyburn, Kelby Collins, TJ Searcy, Kamran James and Quincy Ivory make up the remaining scholarship players available at the position. Several will occupy the JACK role for Florida in 2023.
Sophomore Pyburn — who accounted for three sacks during the first scrimmage of the fall on Thursday — and standout freshman Collins are best suited to fill the spot Boone leaves empty.
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