Another Pitt Transfer Portal Target Commits to SEC Program

Pitt is in the market for defensive line help, especially off the edge, but it won’t come in the form of Justus Boone.

Boone — a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman from Sumter, S.C. — committed to Arkansas on Saturday, after taking a visit to Pittsburgh earlier this week. It’s another official visitor off the market for the Panthers.

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It comes after a handful of portal targets committed elsewhere earlier this week: offensive tackle Derek Simmons (Oklahoma), wide receiver Noah Jennings (Cincinnati) and kicker Stephen Rusnak (Cincinnati).

Serving up sacks 💪

Welcome to Arkansas @justusboone6 🐗 pic.twitter.com/PIe2z9NZCv

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) December 21, 2024

Boone had a busy schedule, making a whole bunch of trips during his second recruiting process, and it led him to the SEC.

He’s coming off a season in which he played 11 games, recording 10 tackles, half a sack, two tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. There was an expectation that he would break out in the 2023 season, but a torn ACL in camp kept him out for the season and hampered his career in Florida.

He recorded 37 tackles (14 solo), five tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass breakup during his three seasons on the field at Florida.

247Sports rates Boone as an 86 three-star transfer and lists him as the 22nd-best edge in the portal. Out of Sumter High School, he was a four-star prospect and the second-best edge rusher out of South Carolina.

Pitt will need to replace Nate Matlack in the starting lineup next season, but there’s a solid base returning with Jimmy Scott (who already announced he’s returning next season), Sincere Edwards and Chief Borders. There are some younger pass rushers on the roster, but it’s been a priority for the coaching staff to target defensive ends in the portal.

Pitt has its core defensive tackles in Sean FitzSimmons, Nick James and Isaiah Neal (with Francis Brewu and Jahsear Whittington primed for bigger seasons), but the need for edge rushers will be addressed.