Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and head coach Kalen DeBoer shared their thoughts on Monday regarding the targeting penalty against linebacker Justin Jefferson, which will sideline him for the first half of Saturday’s game against Wisconsin.
Jefferson was penalized for targeting South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s game. The call, made after a review by the replay official, led to Jefferson’s ejection. Since the foul occurred in the second half, NCAA rules mandate that he sit out the first half of Alabama’s next game.
Wommack expressed disappointment over losing a key player for part of the game, saying, “It’s always disappointing when a dynamic player is unavailable.” After reviewing the play from multiple angles, Wommack emphasized that Jefferson should continue playing hard and that the team will adjust for the first half absence and prepare for his return in the second half.
The penalty stemmed from Jefferson lowering the crown of his helmet and making contact with Brown’s helmet as both players dove forward. NCAA rules classify targeting as forcible contact made when a defender leads with the helmet.
DeBoer added that since the helmets collided, the ruling depended on the specifics of how the officials interpreted the play. “Their helmets hit, now it’s just a matter of whether it met all the criteria for targeting,” he said. DeBoer also noted that Wisconsin would be dealing with a similar situation, as one of their players was also ejected for a hit in a previous game.
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