Justus Boone stepping up after being ‘stepped on’ by Billy Napier

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Justus Boone is a new man. He has a new number this year, and a new outlook on life and the game of football.

He earned the No. 1 jersey for a reason.

“Justus Boone is one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” Florida coach Billy Napier said.

Napier hasn’t always felt that way. When he was hired at UF after the 2021 season, Boone admits that he was making some poor decisions in his life at the time.

Napier noticed and called him out on it.

“He’s been mentoring me,” Boone said. “When he first got here, I wasn’t always with the best crowd, I was still a little young, not necessarily doing everything I had to do, and he just kind of stepped on me a little bit.

“He told me that, ‘Hey, come on, I see a lot of you, and you could do better.’ And I appreciate him for it. I believed in him, and I started to believe in myself, and I made the changes that I needed to make.”

Boone matured both on and off the field during his first year with Napier and had become one of the team captains heading into 2023. But his season ended before it started with a torn ACL in training camp.

Being sidelined last fall was “very tough” and “definitely humbling” for Boone, but the experience made him a better player and person.

“I learned a whole lot about myself and leaned on my spiritualness and my relationship with God, and I found peace with him and with myself,” Boone said. “I just learned I’m a lot tougher than I thought I was, just seeing myself push through some things that have been really challenging and that I didn’t just honestly see myself pushing through. But I was consistent, and I was faithful, and I believed that I could do it.

“Honestly, I can say that my injury gave me a different perspective, as far as coming from a leader, being a teammate. I was able to see things from a different point of view, so I honestly think I’m better for them, I’m more equipped for them. Although I may not be 100% back physically, I’m 100% mentally, and I’ve gotten stronger over the past few months, and I’m continuing to get stronger.”

Boone has been in a non-contact jersey this spring and doing position drills. He said his recovery is “a little bit ahead of progress” and he’s on track to be cleared for the fall.

His injury isn’t the only area where he’s made progress.

“He’s made a ton of progress on the field as a player, but more importantly, as a person,” Napier said of Boone. “He’s probably one of the realest young men that we have. He’s transparent, he holds people accountable, and he speaks the truth. And I think his growth as a person and as a leader has affected our team.

“Even though he didn’t play last year, I think he’s been impactful. So, I’m hopeful his return to play will continue to be on process and he’ll have a chance to affect our team, not only off the field but on the field as well.”

Napier awarded his hard work with the coveted No. 1 jersey, letting him switch from No. 12 this offseason. Boone called it an “honor” to wear the number and he’s looking to break through his ceiling.

“I wear it every day with pride,” Boone said of No. 1. “I come in here every day, try to work my behind off, let everybody know that I’m grateful for it and I don’t take it for granted. I don’t take advantage of it, and I’m appreciative of it.

“I know that it comes with high expectations. I love expectations, because I love striving, I love going towards stuff and reaching my goals and the ceiling. So, I’m gonna go through for the ceiling, for real.”