Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Texas

Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown sends message amid targeting appeal

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle•09/19/22•

NikkiChavanelle

On3 image
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown sent a message to UT nation and the Big 12 offices on Sunday morning. He tweeted, ‘Free me,’ in response to his second-half targeting penalty on Saturday versus UTSA.

The officials ruled Overshown hit Roadrunners quarterback Frank Harris while he was defenseless and called the potential sack targeting, which sent the Texas LB to the bench.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters after the game that he plans to appeal the ruling. If successful, Overshown won’t have to sit out the first half of the team’s Week 4 matchup versus Texas Tech.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Overshown’s “Free me” tweet received more than 6,500 likes and almost 600 retweets.

The Longhorns veteran had 10 tackles and one pass defensed before he left the game on Saturday. Through three games, Overshown has 23 tackles, including 15 solo tackles. He is well on pace to out-produce his 2021 numbers. Sarkisian’s squad pulled out the win 41-20 to move to 2-1 on the season.

Sarkisian: ‘DeMarvion did everything he could’

After the game ended on Saturday, head coach Steve Sarkisian was adamant that he believed Overshown did everything he could to avoid targeting on the quarterback.

“They deemed the quarterback a defenseless player at that point,” Sarkisian said. “There’s new rules in place now where we’re allowed to appeal a targeting, especially one that occurs in the second half of the game, so we’ll definitely try to appeal this one.

“I felt like DeMarvion did everything he could. He never lowered his head, he tried to make a clean hit. It was a bang-bang play. So we’ll take a look at it on tape and then try to send it in and see what the league says.”

If Overshown cannot play in the first half against the Red Raiders next week, it would be a massive loss for Texas. Not only is he one of the leaders for the defense but the linebacker has stepped up as one of the top players on the entire roster. His experience alone is needed on the road in a tough conference atmosphere versus Texas Tech.

Kickoff between the Red Raiders and Longhorns is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Lubbock.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.