JaCorey Thomas was tossed from Georgia’s game against Ole Miss just before halftime after he was flagged for targeting, a call that has sparked some controversy in the college football world.
The Georgia defensive back was flagged for a hit on Ole Miss wide receiver Cayden Lee, who caught a pass at the Ole Miss 41-yard line. The hit was initially called targeting and confirmed after review, leading to Thomas being ejected from what could be the final game of his college football career.
Though the replay did show Thomas making clear contact with Lee’s head, many questioned whether Thomas could have avoided the hit and the decision to eject him from the game.
JaCorey Thomas’ Ejection Called Into Question
Many reporters noted that Lee was being pulled down at the time Thomas made contact, and that the Georgia defensive back appeared to lead with his shoulder and make contact with Lee’s shoulder.
“JaCorey Thomas of UGA just got ejected for targeting on Cayden Lee. Looked like a hit to the shoulder, a little surprised that stood on review,” wrote reporter Matt Infeld in a post on X. “A gift for Ole Miss, they’re almost into field goal range now.”
Lucas Hill, an analyst for ESPN+, also disagreed with the call and thought Thomas should have been able to stay in the game.
“Leads with the shoulder. Bad targeting call,” Hill shared in a post on X. “JaCorey Thomas is done for the day on a bad call.”
Others thought that officials made the right call, even if it was difficult. ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said during the broadcast that his hit met all the parameters of targeting, which left an ejection as the only outcome.
“This is unfortunate for Georgia, because he does attack with force,” Austin said during the Sugar Bowl broadcast. “He puts his shoulder right into the face mask of the of the receiver.”
Others agreed, noting that Lee was clearly struck in the head area, even if that wasn’t the intention of Thomas when he made the hit.
Some Good News for JaCorey Thomas
There could be a bright side for Thomas, despite his ejection. As reporter Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald noted, Thomas would have been forced to sit for the first half of the College Football Playoff semifinal if he had been ejected in the first half. But because the infraction took place just before halftime, he is still eligible to play if the Bulldogs won.
“The only good thing about that JaCorey Thomas targeting is that it came with 23 seconds left in the first half. So wouldn’t have to sit out first half of semifinal if Georgia advances,” Weiszer wrote in a post on X.
The Bulldogs turned to backup safety Zion Branch to fill in for Thomas. The junior has 22 tackles for Georgia this season.
The Bulldogs took a 21-12 lead into halftime. The winner of the Georgia-Ole Miss game would advance to face Miami after the Hurricanes pulled off an upset win over Ohio State on Wednesday.
JaCorey Thomas Ejection in Georgia-Ole Miss Sparks Controversy