No you can't. Read the actual rule.
Hang on. Read the NCAA’s targeting rule.
Exert for defenseless player
Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14):
- A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
- A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
- A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.
- A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
- A player on the ground.
- A player obviously out of the play.
- A player who receives a blind-side block.
- A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.
- A quarterback any time after a change of possession.
- A ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first
Also, a new piece of language added to Note 2 in 2018: “When in question, a player is defenseless.”
So by rule this player was defensless. And when in doubt call it.
Now I would like every targeting call to be explained as to what portion of the rule was violated and posted to the internet.
I did not see it as any force to the head or neck area, but the angle was not that great. It looked like a hit to the chest, but perhaps it moved up as the player was blocked.
We agree that this is a foolish rule with too severe penalties and not enough objective criteria.
