In the third quarter of No. 12 Ole Miss vs. No. 22 Arkansas, Razorback defensive back De’Andre Coley was ejected for targeting for a hit on Rebels wide receiver Van Jefferson. The play happened right after Arkansas’ Henre’ Toliver picked off Chad Kelly. In the video below, Coley, No. 28, is seen hitting No. 12 Jefferson just a split second after the pick takes place.
Coley was called for targeting, and the play was reviewed and upheld, thus ejecting Coley from the rest of the game. Jefferson was viewed as a “defenseless player,” as he was still regaining his footing after jumping for the ball.
The NCAA rulebook lays out a clear definition for what constitutes a targeting foul. Here’s part of the rule:
No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul.
Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area
You could argue that Coley leads with his helmet or shoulder on the hit to Jefferson’s head/neck area. It’s borderline, but as the rule notes, when it’s in question, it’s a foul.
The ejection occurred in the second half of this game, meaning Coley will have to miss the first half of next week’s game at Auburn.
Coley has been ejected for targeting before — earlier in the season he was flagged for targeting on this hit on Texas A&M’s Speedy Noil.
