Georgia Tech will play without safety Tariq Carpenter for the first half of Saturday’s game against North Carolina, as he was penalized for targeting in the second half of Tech’s loss to Clemson.
Players called for targeting are ejected for the remainder of the game, and if the foul occurs in the second half, for the first two quarters of the next game.
After Carpenter left the game Saturday, defensive backs Derrik Allen and Jaylon King played in his absence, a plan that defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker will use again.
“Those guys will bounce back and forth at a couple of positions, and we’ll be ready to roll, and I know Tariq will be itching to get in the second half,” Thacker said.
Carpenter is a three-year starter at safety and ranks fifth on the team with 16 tackles despite playing only one snap against Kennesaw State because of an injury. He had a career-high 13 tackles when he was disqualified in the Clemson game, about midway through the fourth quarter.
“I feel just as comfortable playing with ‘D.A.’ or ‘J-King’ as I do with Tariq,” cornerback Tobias Oliver said. “I don’t think there’ll be any drop-off at all. They’re all great players.”
