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Florida EDGE Justus Boone suffered a torn ACL all through Thursday’s scrimmage and can miss the 2023 season, trainer Billy Napier showed on Friday. Boone can have surgical treatment to restore the injury in the following few weeks, 247 Sports reports.
Boone performed in 13 video games and began two times in 2022. He notched 24 tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. The 6-foot-4, 263-pounder used to be one of the most frontrunners to earn a beginning spot alongside the Gators’ defensive position. A local of Sumter, South Carolina, Boone used to be a four-star prospect and the No. 201 total participant within the Class of 2021.
The injury is a giant blow to a Gators protection that wishes to get to the quarterback on a extra constant foundation in Napier’s 2d season in Gainesville. They completed ultimate season 9th within the SEC in tackles for loss in step with sport with 5.39 and tenth in sacks with 1.77.
Napier stated on Friday that sophomore Jack Pyburn, a 6-foot-3, 253-pounder from Jacksonville, Florida, will most likely see an higher function within the protection following the injury to Boone. Pyburn recorded 3 tackles in 8 video games ultimate yr.
“He’s one of the more impressive young men that we have,” Napier said on Friday. “He’s got that Gator in him.”
True freshman Kelby Collins, a 6-foot-4, 272-pound former four-star prospect, may additionally play a larger issue on this yr’s Gator protection. Collins, an early enrollee from Gardendale, Alabama, used to be ranked No. 53 total within the Class of 2023.
Napier hopes that his avid gamers will use Boone’s absence to come in combination as a team.
“This could really galvanize our team,” Napier stated. “This is a guy players really care about… We’re going to rally around Boone.”
Florida opens its 2023 season on Aug. 31 in opposition to protecting Pac-12 champion Utah in a Thursday night time contest. The Gators crowned the Utes in a 29-26 mystery in Gainesville to open the 2022 season.