LeBron James, J.J. Watt react after Henry Blackburn’s late hit on Travis Hunter: ‘I’ve seen others thrown out for far less’

Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn took the sports world by storm for all the wrong reasons on Saturday night.

A hulking presence in the secondary, Blackburn made his presence felt late in the first quarter of the Rams’ high-profile clash with Colorado. Leading 14-7 with a little under five minutes left in the opening frame, Blackburn delivered a crunching hit on Buffs’ two-way superstar Travis Hunter.

Shedeur Sanders tossed a feather to Hunter, who was racing down the left sideline. Ultimately, the ball fell harmlessly to the ground. Blackburn, at least five yards behind the play, made like a heat-seeking missile for the Heisman hopeful, arrowing him into the ground with impunity.

It was a late hit, one that earned Blackburn the indignity of a 15-yard penalty. It was one of two flags thrown on the play; the referees assessed that Hunter had been impeded on his route as well.

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Ultimately, Colorado capitalized. Sanders slipped a bow to Xavier Weaver, knotting the game up at 14.

However, many high-profile names were still left aghast. That’s because Blackburn — despite appearing to have deliberately targeted Hunter — wasn’t handed a targeting penalty, one that would have seen him ejected from the contest.

From LeBron James to Shannon Sharpe, the number of sports luminaries denouncing the play was seemingly endless. Here are a few of the more valuable insights from sports stars:

LeBron James

Like I don’t understand the difference between targeting and what I just witnessed. I’ve seen others get thrown out for far less. That was blatant and uncalled for IMO!

J.J. Watt

They do ejections for some weak targeting calls, but you don’t get ejected for something absolutely ridiculous like that?!?

Shannon Sharpe

That was targeting. Should’ve been ejected 

Jemele Hill

I hate the targeting rule but how was 11 not ejected for targeting?

Ed Werder

He should have been ejected. Dangerous hit. Ball was on the ground and Travis Hunter unable to protect himself.