Texas DB Derek Williams Jr. ejected for targeting, will miss first half of next game
Texas is up big on Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game, but the first play of the second half proved quite costly for the Longhorns.
On the opening kickoff of the second half, freshman defensive back Derek Williams Jr. was ejected for targeting when he hit a defenseless Oklahoma State player coming across the field. He will have to miss the first half of Texas’ next game, which could very well be in the College Football Playoffs.
The ball was headed toward the left corner of the end zone when Williams raced across from the right side of the field to drill an Oklahoma State player near the head. You can watch a full video of the hit below.
Williams has been an impact player for the Longhorns this season, playing in the majority of the team’s games and making some nice contributions. He had logged 38 tackles, 1.0 tackles for a loss and two pass breakups heading into the Big 12 Championship Game.
He will be missed in the first half of the next game.
But Texas was faring just fine outside of that slight hiccup, building a 35-14 halftime lead on Oklahoma State and in complete control of the game.
Steve Sarkisian praises Quinn Ewers
Texas put together an impressive first half in Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State. The Longhorns went to halftime with a 35-14 lead, thanks in large part to star quarterback Quinn Ewers.
The sophomore was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 23 of 31 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns.
Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke with ESPN at halftime about the performance from Ewers in the first half.
“I think we’re giving him good protection and he’s seeing the field pretty well and guys are making plays for him down the field,” Sarkisian said.
As Sarkisian pointed out, Ewers certainly had plenty of guys step up and make plays around him in the first 30 minutes.
Quinn Ewers connected with nine different receivers in the first half, and seven of the nine had multiple catches. Ja’Tavion Sanders led the way with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Whittington added four catches for 48 yards, while AD Mitchell hauled in three catches for 78 yards and a score.
Running back Jaydon Blue and even star defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat caught touchdowns for Texas in the first half.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this report.