Perhaps the most memorable play of Georgia Tech’s 41-0 win over Alcorn State was one that didn’t actually count.
In the second quarter of Saturday’s game, wide receiver Jalen Camp rose up on the east sideline to make a spectacular one-handed catch, but it was ruled that he was out of bounds, rendering it an incompletion.
“Phenomenal catch,” quarterback TaQuon Marshall said.
On the play, which was on 1st-and-10 from the Alcorn State 44-yard line, Marshall dropped back and threw deep down the left sideline. In one-on-one coverage, Camp shielded off cornerback Daylon Burks and plucked the ball out of the air with his right hand, cradling it against his body as he came down around the Alcorn State 11-yard line. It appeared that Camp’s toe landed inbounds before his heel planted out of bounds, but it was unclear at what point he had cleanly secured the ball.
A replay review of the call confirmed the on-field ruling as an incomplete catch.
Camp’s teammates came to his defense.
“He was in,” B-back Jordan Mason said. “I saw it on the Jumbotron. He was in.”
“He had his toes in, and his heel, it was over the line, but it was off the ground,” wide receiver Brad Stewart said.
Camp, a junior who made his first career start Saturday, was apparently showing teammates video of the play in the locker room after the game.
“Pretty terrible ball,” Marshall said of his pass. “Caught it with one hand with the toe inbounds. I just saw the video downstairs – he was showing me – but it was definitely a catch.”
Whether it was complete or not was almost beside the point. If it was any indication of what Camp can do, it was an appetite-whetting demonstration.
“I’m being biased (about the call), because he’s my teammate, but that was a great, great play,” Stewart said. “Exceptional. He’s got the strongest hands on the team. So, he’s going to make plays like that this year, so (I’m) excited.”
About the Author
