‘Dynamic’ Alabama linebacker will miss first half against Wisconsin after targeting penalty
Justin Jefferson will sit out the first half of Alabama’s game Saturday against Wisconsin under NCAA targeting rules.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and coach Kalen DeBoer both offered their perspectives Monday on a targeting penalty against Tide linebacker Justin Jefferson that will keep him out of the first half of Saturday’s game at Wisconsin.
Jefferson was flagged for targeting in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s game against South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown. The call, which was made upon a review by the replay official, resulted in Jefferson’s ejection from the game. Because it occurred in the second half, it will keep him sidelined for the first half of Alabama’s next game under NCAA rules.
“Obviously it’s always disappointing when you have a dynamic player that is not available for one half of the game,” Wommack said Monday. “We looked at that play and looked at it from about every angle that I could. I think we’ve just got to tell the young man, keep playing. So, it is what it is. We’ll deal with it and get ourselves ready for him in the second half.”
Jefferson lowered the crown of his helmet and made contact with Brown’s helmet as the quarterback also dove forward while scrambling. Under NCAA rules, targeting is called when a defender makes forcible contact while leading with his helmet.
“The helmets hit each other, so we’ll wait to get exactly the feedback,” DeBoer said Monday. “There’s not much you can do when you’re out there as a coach in that moment. Anything I say isn’t gonna matter when they’re going through their decision. Their helmets hit, now it’s just a matter whether it met any or all of the ways that they determine whether it’s targeting or not. Face mask versus crown, all those type of things. I know they [Wisconsin] have got a player that’s out too. I think that was more of a mid-level hit in that game.”
The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Jefferson is a senior who played his first two college seasons at the JUCO level. He played mostly special teams in 2023 before earning a bigger role this offseason in Wommack’s defense as the third inside linebacker behind Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell.
“I think that whole linebacking core has done a lot of great things. Justin, certainly, flying around,” DeBoer said. “We feel great about the speed he brings. He’s into it. He’s into it, not just individually, he’s a guy that’s become a strong leader in our football team in the energy that he brings everyday. I just love having him in this program. He’s
involved in special teams, not having him out there in the first half will be tougher. He’s an important part of what we do with different packages. Unfortunately, that happened late in the game. We’ll have to work through that with the first half of Wisconsin.”
