A play very late in the win over UTEP this past weekend will cost Ole Miss a player for their upcoming game against a school from the same state.
With 3:18 left in the fourth quarter, freshman defensive back Trae Elston went high and hard on a Miners wide receiver near the goal line, although the play didn’t draw a flag. It did, though, draw the attention of the SEC.
Commissioner Mike Slive announced Tuesday morning that Elston has been suspended for the Sept. 15 Texas at Ole Miss football game. The release stated that the one-game suspension was “the result of a flagrant and dangerous act” on the part of Elston, and used both the NCAA’s rulebook and the conference’s own constitution to explain the reasoning behind the punitive measure.The action is in violation of Rule 9-1-4 of the NCAA Football Rule Book, which reads, “No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder,” and Rule 9-1-3 which states, “No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet.”
This action is taken in accordance with Southeastern Conference Constitution, Article 4.4.2 (d) which states that a student-athlete may be suspended if it is determined that the student-athlete has committed a flagrant or unsportsmanlike act.
Did the hit deserve a suspension? You be the judge:
Said head coach Hugh Freeze in a statement, “We are disappointed to lose Trae for this weekend, but we are moving forward as a team and focused on Texas.”
Elston is listed as a backup safety on Ole Miss’ most recent depth chart
(Photo credit: Ole Miss athletics)