TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ University of Alabama senior free safety Nick Perry was ejected from Saturday’s game against Southern Miss for targeting.

Since the penalty was called in the second half, per NCAA rules he’ll also have to sit the first half of next week’s Southeastern Conference opener against Florida.

The call occurred on second-and-8 at the USM 47-yard line, when Kyle Foster dropped a pass for an incompletion and Perry still applied a high hit. The call was upheld after being reviewed. Following the automatic first down the Golden Eagles kicked a 37-yard field goal to close the deficit to 28-9.

With senior Jarrick Williams expected to be out at least two more weeks following surgery to insert a screw for a foot fracture, Alabama is already a little thin at safety. Just before the penalty sophomore cornerback Eddie Jackson, who is coming off knee surgery, limped off the field and was replaced by true freshman Tony Brown.

Perry, who beat out Geno Smith for the starting job during training camp, tweeted from the Alabama locker room: