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In what has become a recurring theme for Georgia, the Bulldogs will be without their best safety against Florida.
Dominick Sanders was ejected for targeting in the second half of the Bulldogs’ 9-6 win against Missouri, which means he will miss the first half against the Gators. Sanders was flagged for targeting on a third-down play when he jumped at Missouri WR Emanuel Hall and their helmets collided near the sideline. The call was upheld after an official review.
Entering the Missouri game, Sanders was fifth on the Bulldogs with 29 tackles and shared the team lead in interceptions and passes broken up. He had a tackle for a loss against Missouri. The Florida game will be the first the sophomore won’t start since the beginning of last season.
Georgia will likely start Quincy Mauger and Johnathan Abram at safety against Florida.
The targeting issue has been contentious across the country. Sanders was the third SEC player that day to be ejected for targeting. South Carolina’s T.J. Holloman and Alabama’s Shaun Dion Hamilton were each booted.
After the game, Georgia coach Mark Richt said it looked like the right call, but it “stinks” to lose Sanders for a half against Florida.
Georgia linebacker Jake Ganus said Sanders was just trying to make a play.
“It’s one of those things where there was no intent to hurt the receiver or anything like that,” Ganus told reporters after the Missouri game. “I think he did hit the head but he was clearly just trying to make a play. He wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. It’s a tough call but it’s the rule and we have to play by it.”
Alabama coach Nick Saban said targeting has helped emphasize player safety and that people are working to improve the rules.
It’s not the first time this season a Georgia player has been ejected for targeting. Linebacker Lorenzo Carter was tossed against Vanderbilt in the first quarter.
Richt has lamented the targeting rule before, and added that defenders are having a difficult time tackling without drawing a targeting flag. In Richt’s weekly radio show after the Vanderbilt game, Richt said he didn’t agree with the call.
“He didn’t launch. His eyes were up. He did exactly what we coached him to do,” Richt said.
The targeting rule has irritated Richt for years, especially since the Bulldogs were called for it twice in 2013 against Vanderbilt. Ray Drew, Georgia’s leader in sacks at the time, and linebacker Ramik Wilson were each called for targeting. Drew was ejected, but Wilson’s call was overturned.
The NCAA changed the rule before last season to eliminate the 15-yard penalty if the call is overturned.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
