- May 5, 2024
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Growing up, Adonis Boone wasn’t allowed to play football.
His dad thought it was too dangerous. But once he got old enough, he made the choice for himself. Now Boone is well on his way to a future in the sport he was never supposed to play, committing to the University of South Florida under new head coach Charlie Strong.
“They didn’t sugarcoat anything with me,” Boone said. “A lot of coaches say they will promise you playing time, but you might not actually play for a few years. I love the environment in Tampa and I love what they got going. I had a great relationship with all of my recruiters there.”
Boone, a 6-foot-5-inch, 275-pound offensive lineman, is a behemoth on the field who stands out from his peers at practice.
His size is prototypical for his position, and since transferring from Seabreeze during his freshman year, Boone had always had hopes of becoming better, but even this was something he couldn’t have expected.
“My sophomore year I was behind Marcus Tatum and now I still talk to him to this day. He taught me a lot of playing and about how Mainland is a big family,” Boone said. “It’s just been a blessing to now be going into the season settled and comfortable with where I’m going. I just can only thank God because I’ve been blessed.”
Tatum is now an offensive lineman at the University of Tennessee, and Boone, now a senior, is following in the footsteps of his predecessors with a Division 1 commitment. Boone also received offers from Cincinnati, UConn, Georgia State, Louisville and many others.
In total, Boone had 28 Division 1 scholarship offers and is listed as a three-star recruit on 24/7 Sports and Rivals.
Boone gets his inspiration from his family on the field and off. He has three siblings — Jahmeik, Khalil and Kahleah — and he’s focused on playing hard for them.
“I have three siblings and I want to give them something to look up to," Boone said.
Boone talks up Mainland and its offense, which comes into the season as the odds-on favorite to win district 6A-13.
Safety Johnathan Huggins and wide receiver D’Marcus Adams are Florida State commits and B.J. Jenkins is a 5’6 bolt of lightning as a slot receiver.
“The receivers all know what they’re doing and they’re smart,” Boone said. “Everybody feels like since we got a new quarterback that we’re going to start slow, but everyone knows what they have to do so I think we’re going to do really well.”
With last year’s quarterback Denzel Houston at FAU, the team will turn to senior Jake Novello to lead this year’s group.
But regardless of who is taking the snaps, Boone will be the man in front leading the line.
“I think this year we have a really great team,” Boone said. “Mainland is a family.”
