FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek said Saturday he plans to appeal the targeting suspension that would cause safety Jalen Catalon to miss the first half of next week’s game at Missouri.
Catalon was thrown out during the fourth quarter of the Razorbacks’ 27-24 loss to LSU on Saturday when he delivered a hard hit to receiver Kayshon Boutte. The replay appeared to show Catalon hit Boutte in the shoulder.
According to the NCAA rulebook, a player has committed targeting if he makes “forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent.” Among the characteristics of a defenseless player is one who is in the process of making a reception, as Boutte was.