The son of 1982 and 1983 Michigan Wolverines tackles leader Mike Boren, Justin was widely recruited by the nation's top schools, including both his father's alma mater, the University of Michigan and its archrival, Ohio State University, Boren's hometown school.

When head coach Lloyd Carr retired and was replaced by Rich Rodriguez, Boren became unhappy with the new staff and transferred to Ohio State.

After transferring he had to sit 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was also required to pay his own tuition, per Big Ten conference rules.

He was also a member of the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos but never played in a regular season or postseason NFL game.

[9] That season, he earned Division I Associated Press All-Ohio High School Football Team special mention.

[12] As a result, he was selected to participate as one of 78 players in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl where he started at left offensive guard for the East team.

[13] He was also selected to the Associated Press first-team Division I All-Central District and All-Ohio high school football teams as an offensive lineman.

[18] Both players participated in spring practice,[19] which was part of a national trend of more high schoolers enrolling early.

[4] Despite being injured through the entire month of September, Boren decided not to redshirt and debuted during the Paul Bunyan Trophy rivalry game against Michigan State on October 7.

[24][25] On October 28, with Riley still injured, he became only the fourth true freshman to start on the Michigan offensive line in the modern era during a victory against Northwestern.

[29][30] At the end of the National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned 15 days of spring football practice, he was announced as the starting center, replacing Mark Bihl.

[34] The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season was eagerly anticipated for the 2007 Wolverines with returning seniors Long, Mike Hart and Chad Henne in key roles,[33] but the season quickly began to fall apart when the team lost to the two-time defending FCS champion Appalachian State Mountaineers in the opening game.

[47] After the season, both Boren and Kraus were named to Jewish Sports Review's 2007 College Football All-America Team.

Rodriguez' no huddle spread option offense, which used zone blocking, was a major adjustment for Boren.

[50] Boren made a statement to the press regarding his decision,[51] which included the following excerpt: "Michigan football was a family, built on mutual respect and support for each other from (former) Coach (Lloyd) Carr on down.

.That I am unable to perform under these circumstances at the level I expect of myself, and my teammates and Michigan fans deserve, is why I have made the decision to leave.

[53] According to Section 14.5.2.B of the Rules of Eligibility in the Big Ten handbook, Boren is ineligible to be a scholarship athlete after transferring.

[55] Later that summer, Detroit Free Press writer Michael Rosenberg, backed up Boren's statement about family values: "Rodriguez's staff uses some of the foulest, most degrading language imaginable.

"[56] When Boren arrived at Ohio State at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 310 pounds (140 kg), he was one of the smallest offensive linemen on the team.

[60] The 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team included three seniors on the offensive line: Boone, Steve Rehring and Ben Person.

[63] Both Scout.com and Rivals.com agreed with this number one ranking prior to the final signing period and although the offensive line had been the team's problem in 2008, the highly touted class included three tackles and a guard plus transfer Boren.

[64][65] In the spring of 2009, Hope Boren spoke at signing day about her two sons prospects for at Ohio State: "As a parent, you always try to raise kids who are happy and successful .

[79] But as the season progressed guards Boren and Bryant Browning teamed up with second-year linemen Michael Brewster, J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams to form a unit that worked effectively.

[80][81] Boren missed the October 31 non-conference game against New Mexico State due to an unspecified foot injury.

[86][87][88][89] Boren was one of 56 offensive linemen invited to participate in the February 24 – March 1, 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.