Derek Meadows down on the field. (Photo via ESPN)Alabama wide receiver was knocked out cold while playing Missouri on Saturday, taking a hefty hit that left him unconscious after going up to catch a pass.The Crimson Tide went into the game with a 4-1 record against the 5-0 Tigers and will hope to deal them their first loss of the season.
But an ugly incident in the first quarter threatened to sour things after Meadows caught a throw from his quarterback but was forced to drop it after a crunching hit from Missouri safety Marvin Burks Jr.
He lay motionless on the field after the tackle, which the refs decided was a targeting offense, meaning an ejection for the DB.
Fans Sympathize With Both Derek Meadows And Marvin Burks Jr.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – AUGUST 30: Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Derek Meadows (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fans were unanimous in their claims that the hit, while hard, was clean and that Burks did not deserve to be ejected.
“Awful hit but the DB gets the fault for a situation the QB put his receiver in. Shoulder to chest. Don’t know where else the helmet is supposed to go when hitting someone out of the air,” one wrote.
“Horrific call. DB has to stop running and let the WR run it into the end zone next time I guess,” said a second.
“That’s a good hit. If you don’t like it then maybe your qb shouldn’t set you up like that or you should go play flag football,” offered a third.
“Hard hit, don’t get me wrong, but the targeting rule has no rules anymore. That is shoulder to chest, no launching, no crown of helmet,” another comment read.
Scary hit here in Alabama WR Derek Meadows
He was able to walk off the field
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 11, 2025
The incident follows one from last month in which a Louisiana football team lost its quarterback to a nasty hit that sparked a targeting debate.
It doesn’t appear that anyone felt this most recent play amounted to said offense.
