NCAA Football: Top 3 Changes Needed To Targeting Rule

By Kelvin Hunt | Mar 2, 2017

Oct 8, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles offensive lineman Kareem Are (left) tries to help up Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (right) during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. FSU won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

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Degree of Targeting

Here FSU’s Trey Marshall is a victim of another targeting call. You’ll notice Marshall never leads with the crown of his helmet and actually tries to wrap up the tackle.

However, the height of Lewis when he stands up after catching the punt makes him the perfect height for a helmet to helmet.

One of the new proposals:

If replay doesn’t have enough evidence to confirm targeting or overturn the penalty — i.e., the call on the field stands — the player stays in the game and the 15-yard penalty remains.

On plays like this there should be some discretion by the officials, or they should know that this isn’t targeting. Maybe give him a 15 yard penalty, but there’s no reason Marshall should have been ejected for that hit.

Now he has to miss the first half of the game against Alabama in the 2017 opener.

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