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When Virginia Tech kicks off against Boston College on Saturday afternoon, they will do so without one of their top defensive players.
Whip linebacker/defensive back Khalil Ladler will miss the first half of Saturday’s contest against Boston College due to a targeting call during the second half of the Hokies loss to Georgia Tech on Thursday night. By rule, Ladler will be suspended for the first half of the Hokies contest against Boston College and will be eligible to return for the second half.
“I have stopped sending them in because it doesn’t do any good,” Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente joked during a recording of Tech Talk Live on Monday night.
“We will miss Khalil for the first half of the next game because of the targeting penalty and again, it will force us to shuffle some guys around in the secondary for the first half of the game. Khalil has played a big role on special teams as well and he has really been a productive player for us so, it’s not just the fact that he won’t be out there but it’s the fact that some other people will have to shuffle around a little bit and will cause a little bit of strain on us for the first part of the next game.”
Ladler was ejected for tackling a player with the crown, or top, of his helmet, a call that has gone multiple directions over the past few weeks across college football.
“Khalil’s call is unfortunate, the targeting penalty. It certainly wasn’t malicious or deliberate. I think, the way the rule is written, there is always going to be plays that get flagged for targeting where really, the defender has no real opportunity to do anything else other than hit the guy in his shoelaces as his other option,” Fuente explained.