Penn State linebacker ejected on questionable targeting call (Video)

The inconsistent interpretation of the targeting rule by officials is one of the more frustrating things in college football. That was on display Saturday in Ann Arbor where Michigan hosted Penn State.

Michigan was in the red zone looking to increase its lead to 21-0 when Wilton Speight looked for Grant Perry near the goal line, but the pass fell incomplete. Perry was defended by Penn State junior linebacker Brandon Smith on the play. It looked like Smith was going for the ball, and as he did his shoulder pad hit Perry in the helmet.

Smith was called for targeting on the play and ejected. It was a questionable call at best:

By definition, targeting is called when a player “takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.” Targeting is also called with a player uses the crown of his helmet, makes contact to the head or neck area (with the forearm, first, elbow or shoulder in addition to helmet) or hits a defenseless player.

By watching that replay, it’s hard to see Smith’s hit fitting under any of that criteria for a penalty to be called. Nonetheless, Smith’s ejection was upheld after a quick review, leaving Penn State’s depleted linebacker corps in even worse shape against the fourth-ranked Wolverines.

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Smith, a former walk-on, was making his first career start with PSU’s top three linebackers — Brandon Bell, Nyeem Wartman-White and Jason Cabinda — all out with injuries.

With Smith out, Penn State inserted redshirt freshman walk-on Jan Johnson, who is also a member of the PSU wrestling team. To make matters worse, Johnson went down with a leg injury in the second quarter with the Nittany Lions down big.

For more Penn State news, visit BlueWhiteIllustrated.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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