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Texas A&M Football: Travon Fuller ejected for targeting

By Matthew Bartlett

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Texas A&M football and Arkansas are both off to sloppy starts in Arlington, Texas. The Aggies wasted no time before having a player ejected.

The word “targeting” brings a lot of tense feelings whenever it’s mentioned in a college football broadcast. On one hand, player safety is a legitimate concern. The NFL is under constant harassment because of the inexact science that surrounds CTE. On the other, can you really make football safe?

Targeting was instituted to bring some element of safety to the college game. The problem is that nobody really knows what it is. We do know that hitting anyone in the helmet with your helmet is dangerous. That’s what freshman Travon Fuller was flagged for doing on the Aggies’ first punt of the afternoon against Arkansas.

After a short drive stalled, punter Shane Tripuka boomed a great punt down the field, but it was never received. Fuller blasted the Arkansas’ punt returner before he touched the ball, resulting in kick catch interference and an ejection. Fuller was clearly guilty of the infraction even though the hit didn’t look nefarious.

Fuller was not exepected to do more than play on special teams during the Aggies’ tilt with the Razorbacks on Saturday. Kevin Sumlin has plenty of depth on the kick coverage unit and Fuller’s loss won’t be felt. However, it still is a spot of frustration for Texas A&M.

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The Aggies aren’t playing their best football yet. Handing Arkansas free yards this time led immediate to a Razorback touchdown and an early deficit. Sumlin needs to win this game and extend his winning streak over the Razorbacks to six. If he doesn’t the clamoring for his job is only going to get louder and louder.