Southern University starting quarterback Jalen Woods will not be available for the Jaguars’ upcoming college football contest after he was knocked out of the game last weekend. It was a scary scene.
Fortunately, the sophomore signal-caller was ultimately released after a trip to the hospital.
Unfortunately, the college football officials chose not to throw a flag for targeting even though it was obvious. The blatant contact to the head/neck area somehow went unpunished.
Southern quarterback Jalen Woods is okay.
The play in question took place on Saturday as Southern played on the road at Mississippi Valley State. Woods kept the ball on an option play and ran to the outside.
He did not get more than a few yards downfield before he was met by a big hit from the defense.
The hit that knocked #Southern QB Jalen Woods out of the game. No flag thrown for targeting and could not be reviewed because there is no replay here in Valley.
— Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr) August 30, 2025
Terrene Graves and the entire SU sideline was rightfully livid. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/2g2qwtNEea
Woods laid motionless on the field for a moment as the medical team rushed to his side. They ultimately took him off of the field on a stretcher. He was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
Jalen Woods is now going inside the ambulance and gave a thumbs up while being carted off.
— Toyloy Brown III (@TJ3rd_) August 30, 2025
That's a good sign that he's able to move a part of his body https://t.co/iNHp9l5itP pic.twitter.com/5MSd7fJCgc
Cam’Ron McCoy took over at quarterback and led the Jaguars to victory in Woods’ honor. Southern later released the following statement:
“Jaguar Nation, thank you for all of the prayers, support and messages we have received. Saturday afternoon Quarterback #2 Jalen Woods sustained an injury to the head/neck area during the second quarter of our game at Mississippi Valley State and was promptly taken to Greenwood LeFlore hospital for precautionary evaluation […] We are relieved to confirm that all tests have come back negative, and Jalen Woods is currently in good condition and has full range of motion.”
However, Woods will not be available to return to the field this weekend. McCoy will start.
What is targeting in college football?!
By rule, targeting must be called if:
- The defensive player leaves their feet to launch themselves at an opponent.
- The defensive player crouches before making a tackle to create maximum force.
- The defensive player leads with their helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact the head or neck area of an opposing player.
- The defensive player lowers their head before making a tackle and makes forcible contact with the crown of the helmet.
No flag was thrown for targeting on the hit that knocked Jalen Woods out of the game. It could not be reviewed because there was no replay.
Jaguars head coach Terrance Graves received the following explanation for why the flag was not thrown:
Terrence Graves shared what the refs explanation was for no flag on the Jalen Woods hit.
— Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr) August 31, 2025
Graves also told us that Woods is ok and is riding back with the team to Baton Rouge. #Southern @WAFB https://t.co/eb5h1UJLpe pic.twitter.com/X1DvygPhi0
I do not understand how the officials did not call targeting. It was a clear penalty and now Jalen Woods will be out for an undisclosed period of time.