KNOXVILLE — Tennessee may not agree with the targeting penalty and ensuing ejection and suspension that will cost cornerback Emmanuel Moseley the first half of Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
The Volunteers have no choice but to accept it and move on, however.
Moseley delivered a big hit on Kentucky receiver Garrett Johnson during the second half of Tennessee’s 52-21 win in Lexington last Saturday night and was flagged for targeting, a decision upheld by the replay official who reviewed the play.
“We felt like it wasn’t targeting, but we can’t do anything about the call now,” cornerback Cameron Sutton said Monday.
Moseley is the second Tennessee player to be ejected for targeting since the NCAA added the player disqualification element to the 15-yard penalty in 2013.
Safety Brian Randolph missed the first half against Missouri last November after he correctly was called for targeting against Kentucky, though Moseley’s was much more controversial.
“It’s kind of the way football is played right now,” linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin said. “You’ve got to be careful about those types of things.
“We’ve got to make sure we pick up his slack for that first half that he’s not in. He’s a guy that plays on special teams, too, so someone has to step up. I look forward to getting him back for that second half.”
Moseley appeared to hit Johnson’s chest with his shoulder, though the hit did catch the bottom of his facemask, as the receiver took his third step after catching the ball on a crossing pattern over the middle of the field.
“He played it about as well as you could possibly play it,” Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said. “If there was a coaching point, you would tell him to wrap up. But he hit below (the helmet), he hit with his shoulder pad and did not lead with his helmet. The one coaching point would be to wrap.
“That would be the big thing, but he did not launch himself into the (receiver).”
Jones was very animated with officials on the field after the replay official did not overturn the call.
He suggested after the game Tennessee would try to appeal the suspension, but NCAA rules only allow targeting disqualifications to be appealed only if instant replay isn’t available during the game.
Jones said Monday the Vols have been in contact with the SEC office regarding the call.
Georgia tailback Nick Chubb is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Emmanuel Moseley on the first play from scrimmage during Saturday afternoon’s game at Neyland Stadium. Chubb’s left knee was injured on the play, and the Bulldogs announced Sunday that the season is over for the sophomore, who had rushed for at least 100 yards in 13 straight games.“I don’t believe there is an appeal process, but we’re trying to do anything and everything,” he said. “It’s a decision that they made, and you have to respect that decision and move on.
“The SEC has done a great job of giving immediate feedback to us and responding. They’ve done a great job in that regard. I’ll know a little bit more as the week progresses with that, and that’s really all I can say.”
Moseley was the first corner off the bench on Saturday night, and Sutton and Justin Martin, who made his first start against the Wildcats, will continue to start.
If anything happens to either of those two, the Vols likely would slide Malik Foreman to an outside corner spot and plug in Micah Abernathy at the nickel corner, though the freshman could push Foreman for the starting job there this week.
“He’s still energized (with) the same mindset,” Sutton said of Moseley. “He’s still locked in, focused, be ready to go this week.
“He’s still going to practice still going to be in the game plan and get the same coaching and film study, as well as practice. (He’ll) be ready to go in the second half.”
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.