Sports

Skull-Rattling Hit Sparks Debate After Maryland Quarterback Draws Targeting Call With Late Slide

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College Football Targeting Late Slide
Fox Sports 1

UConn defensive back Jordan Wright was ejected from Saturday’s college football game against Maryland after being flagged for targeting. However, it is not entirely clear what else he was supposed to do.

The quarterback drew contact with an extremely late slide.

Billy Edwards Jr. rolled out of the pocket to his right and looked down field. Nobody was open so he elected to tuck the ball. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound redshirt junior took off running.

It did not end well!

Wright got up field in a hurry and made the stop with a vicious skull-rattling hit to the head. Edwards’ noggin also bounced off of the turf, which caused him to lose his helmet. He was visibly stunned after getting licked.

The play was reviewed. Wright was called for targeting and thrown out of the contest.

By definition, the officials made the correct call. Key indicators of targeting are outlined by the NCAA rulebook:

  • Launch — a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area.
  • A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground.
  • Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area.
  • Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet.

Wright’s massive hit checked at least three of the four boxes. He committed a targeting foul. It was rightfully called as such.

With that being said, Wright was already in motion to make the tackle when Edwards went to the ground. He had less than a second to recognize the slide, stop his forward momentum and change the entire trajectory of his body. Scientifically speaking, there wasn’t enough time for him to avoid targeting.

This exact same issue came up during Michigan State’s win over FAU on Friday!

The whole point of sliding is for the player to protect himself. If a quarterback is going to go down as late as Edwards did on Saturday, he is welcoming big hits and any potential flag that might follow.

Surely college football doesn’t want to reward a late slide, right?!