When true freshman defensive tackle Floyd Boucard was asked about picking up his first career sack in Saturday’s game against Purdue, he couldn’t stop a smile from lighting up his face.

“It felt amazing,” Boucard said at a post-practice news conference Wednesday. “You only get one opportunity. You’re only gonna get one … I made sure I celebrated.”

A former four-star recruit, Boucard has had an immediate impact for No. 25 USC (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in his freshman season. Despite vying for playing time in the midst of a loaded defensive roster, Boucard made a name for himself in the Trojans’ first three games, recording three solo tackles on Sept. 6 in a 59-20 win against Georgia Southern University (1-2) before his inaugural sack at Purdue (2-1, 0-1).

“Out of all the guys we have, I think he has the ability to really rush from a lot of spots for a defensive tackle,” Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn said at a post-practice news conference Wednesday. “His interior and pass rush, I think it’s going to keep on improving.”

Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett, who made headlines after his 70-yard pick-six against Purdue, singled out Boucard when asked about his experience playing on the defensive line.

“Floyd has great footwork. He’s really quick,” Jarrett said at a post-practice news conference Wednesday. “He’s a big boy that can move.”

When asked who was faster between the two 300-pound tackles, Jarrett said with a laugh that he had “beat Floyd in a race a couple times.”

Given his presence at a stacked position on a top-25 college football team, one might expect Boucard to be a lifelong football fanatic who’s been training for the gridiron since the moment he took his first steps.

That would be wrong: Boucard — one of just three international players on USC’s roster — grew up playing hockey in his hometown of Montreal. In fact, he didn’t touch football until his freshman year of high school, where he said his cousin introduced him to the sport.

“I just tried it, because ‘Why not?’” Boucard said. “It wasn’t my first sport, but I fell in love with the sport, and it brought me here, so I’m happy with it.”

Though the two sports might not seem to have much in common, Boucard said his years of playing hockey helped prepare him for the physicality of football.

“Hockey helped with football a lot with staying balanced,” Boucard said. “The game speed, it helps a little bit — but just being stable on your feet, gaining ground.”

Roughly 3,000 miles away from his hometown of Montreal, Boucard said his biggest culture shock from moving to the United States was the magnitude of celebration surrounding the Fourth of July.

“In Canada, when it’s independence day, we don’t really do all that,” Boucard said. “The fireworks out here, it goes on for like two days straight.”

Boucard’s hockey days may be behind him, but he said he still likes to skate when he can.

“Just a little bit, here and there,” Boucard said.

Boucard and the Trojans will return to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday at 8 p.m. to face off against Michigan State (3-0).