Targeting has been a key point of contention in college football because of what is perceived to be inconsistency in calling it. It’s almost as if there’s a grey area of nuance sometimes. There is nothing inconsistent or grey about what Boston College’s Khari Johnson did on Thursday night against Pittsburgh.
As Pittsburgh’s Malcolm Epps leaped for a jump ball downfield, Johnson launched himself with a shoulder straight up into the air. Even if his intent was purely to make a play on the ball, there was undoubtedly a better approach to doing so, rather than exploding with a shoulder right into Epps’ helmet. Fortunately, Epps was OK, while Johnson was rightfully ejected for the unnecessary violence. There’s no place in the game for it.
Even watching it on replay for the 17th time, I still can’t believe Johnson made this decision and play. It is legitimately THAT bad.
We might be seeing this hit from Khari Johnson's years to come, defining textbook targeting. pic.twitter.com/OayFb83ZWl
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 17, 2023
These are the kinds of sequences college football is trying to eliminate when it institutes targeting. A defensive back like Johnson should be able to do their job without aimlessly launching themselves into the air without any care or hesitation. In this instance, we didn’t see that kind of thought process.
Twitter was aghast at Khari Johnson's blatant and violent targeting
What in the hell is WRONG with you, dude?? https://t.co/pGPY0T0buo
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) November 17, 2023
Has there ever been an easier call for the ref than this one in the history of football? https://t.co/HNuSRTWIyT
— New Year New Venables. (@jjustasoonerfan) November 17, 2023
You can HEAR the clack sound. Insane. https://t.co/VzR0CC1y55
— Fire Everyone Named Ferentz (@Clark_Addison) November 17, 2023
Don’t know if I’ve ever seen targeting this blatant. This is wild https://t.co/a650QCT4CK
— Ian Kenyon (@ikenyonFB) November 17, 2023
Single greatest targeting hit of all time https://t.co/oXK0FKfn3v
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) November 17, 2023
I don’t even understand how he pulled this off, but they gonna show this in the training videos https://t.co/xAk88PNqL7
— Patrick Simpson (@_PatrickSimpson) November 17, 2023
This is the most targeting you can do https://t.co/6DHucgZKCx
— Jason Kirk (@JasonKirk_fyi) November 17, 2023
This doesn’t even seem real it’s so bad https://t.co/ImsPJyYh3l
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) November 17, 2023
Holy christ dude, this kind of targeting should be like when a pitcher intentionally throws at a batter. He gets ejected and the coach gets ejected. Get this guy all the way out of here. https://t.co/dmJP01JLdQ
— Matt Burnell (@mdburnell) November 17, 2023
