Texas A&M's Shemar Turner ejected for punching Ole Miss player in the groin

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Turner (#5) rushes the passer during the  Southwest Classic college football game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Arkansas Razorbacks on September 30, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.  (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Shemar Turner blocked a field goal that was returned for a TD before he was ejected against Ole Miss. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner was ejected in the third quarter of his team’s 38-35 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday for a flagrant personal foul.

Turner had been blocked by the Rebels’ Micah Pettus on the play and took apparent issue with a small shove by Pettus as the play was ending. As Pettus stood up, Turner wound up and delivered an uppercut to Pettus’ groin.

A player is typically ejected after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties but Turner was ejected right away because it was considered a flagrant penalty.

The penalty gave Ole Miss a first down at the Texas A&M 6-yard line and the Rebels scored on the next play via a touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. The TD extended Ole Miss’ lead to 14 points, though the Aggies quickly responded to cut the lead back to seven.

Turner is one of A&M's best defensive lineman and entered the game with nine tackles for loss and five sacks. He was having a big impact before he was ejected, too.

Turner was partially responsible for the Aggies’ first TD of the day when he blocked a field goal that could have put Ole Miss up 17-0 in the second quarter. After Turner blocked the kick, Jacoby Matthews picked up the bouncing ball and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown and a 10-point swing.

The Aggies rallied in the second half and had a chance to send the game to overtime with a 47-yard field goal, but Ole Miss' Xavien Harris tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage and the kick fell just short in a 38-35 Rebels win.