The Michigan Wolverines are excited about their ceiling with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, the number one overall recruit in his class. Underwood’s first real test in his collegiate career will come on Saturday when the Wolverines travel to take on the Oklahoma Sooners.
Unfortunately, Michigan will be without one of its key players on the other side of the ball for the first half of the contest, according to one prominent college football insider.
“The targeting call against Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham has been upheld, coach Sherrone Moore said. Barham will miss the first half of this week’s game at Oklahoma. He was ejected in the third quarter against New Mexico after a hit on Lobos quarterback Jack Layne,” reported ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on Monday.
Fans reacted to the ruling on social media.
“It was a hit to the head of the QB, also with the crown of the helmet. Obvious targeting. No problem with the call and with it being upheld. Unnecessary roughness could have been called to for how he started twisting the QBs head on the way down. Michigan doesn’t like rules,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Tough break for Michigan’s defense losing Barham for a half, especially heading into a big road game. These targeting calls always stir debate – reminds me of Sean Curtis’s point about how the rule’s application can really swing a game’s momentum,” someone else added.
“Can’t wait for the same hit on Bryce Underwood and the call will not be targeting. Book it. You heard it here first,” another fan wrote.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Wolverines maneuver around the loss.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.