Few things cause more debate in college football than the targeting rule.
LSU is the latest school to be at the forefront of the debate after safety Andre’ Sam was ejected for an illegal hit against Florida. That came a week after Alabama’s Dallas Turner wasn’t ejected for a hit that knocked Jayden Daniels out of the game with a head injury.
“I just think that we’re in a bad position in college football as it relates to targeting,” Kelly said after LSU’s win over Florida.
Sam’s ejection and Turner’s non-ejection are far from the first controversial enforcements of the rule. Since the targeting rule was changed in 2013 to result in an ejection for the offending player, there have been countless examples of controversial calls and missed calls.
MORE FOOTBALL: Brian Kelly highlights underappreciated contributions in win over Florida, redefining elite
The first major controversy for LSU came in 2018. Late in a game against Mississippi State, LSU linebacker Devin White was ejected for targeting after making contact with Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald’s helmet on a hit.
The ejection meant White had to serve a first-half suspension in LSU’s next game, which unfortunately happened to be the Tigers’ biggest game of the year against Alabama.
LSU’s most recent targeting controversy also included Alabama.
After releasing a deep pass in the fourth quarter, Daniels was violently slammed to the ground. Turner, one of Alabama’s top defensive players, launched his helmet up into Daniels’ chin, slamming him to the ground, leaving Daniels face down and unable to finish the game.
The hit was flagged for roughing the passer, but not targeting. According to Kelly, it wasn’t even reviewed.
Fast forward a week later, and Florida running back Montrell Johnson lowered his head and shoulders to fight for extra yards at the end of a play. He was met by Sam, who had to make a last-minute adjustment to get to Johnson’s level, resulting in his helmet making contact with Johnson’s arm.
After a review, Sam was ejected, and Kelly was irate.
MORE FOOTBALL: Jayden Daniels continues to make Heisman case with historic performance in win over Florida
“We have a play like tonight which was a normal football play where a running back is lowering his shoulder, and we are trying to make a tackle. We’re not targeting, we’re not trying to lead with the helmet. We’re just trying to make a tackle. We throw a kid out of the game. That is tragic,” Kelly said after the game.
Expanding on his point, Kelly compared the hit to the one that knocked Daniels out of the game a week prior.
“That guy that hit Jayden Daniels was trying to knock him out. You can say whatever you want, but that’s what he was trying to do. Our guy was trying to make a tackle. So everybody’s smart enough to figure that out,” Kelly said.
