A projected top-five NFL pick and Missouri’s most dynamic player is now out of the SEC Championship.

Defensive end and SEC sack leader Shane Ray was ejected just minutes into the second quarter for targeting on Alabama quarterback Blake Sims.

On the first play of the drive, Sims dropped back and threw a bomb to DeAndrew White downfield for a 58-yard touchdown pass. But after the throw, Ray delivered a vicious hit at the bottom of Sims’ helmet and knocked him to the ground.

He was immediately called for targeting and the ruling was upheld after the review.

The impact of Ray’s ejection cannot be understated for Missouri. He is the Tigers’ best pass rusher and their top player. In a game where Missouri’s defense needed to play one of its best games of the season to pull of an upset of the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, Ray’s absence will be a huge loss.