One of Alabama's biggest losses for next week's Southeastern Conference opener against Florida won't be due to injury, but from an ejection.

Alabama safety Nick Perry became the first Crimson Tide player ejected for targeting (helmet-to-helmet hit) after colliding heads with Southern Miss' Kyle Foster early in the third quarter. Last season, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Eddie Jackson were both flagged for targeting, however in each case, the ejection was overturned after video review.

Because Perry was ejected in the second half, he will, by rule, be suspended for the first half against the Gators.

Perry tweeted an apology for the hit and disqualification, prior to the end of the game.

Along with the ejection, Perry was flagged for 15 yards, moving Southern Miss to the Alabama 38-yard line. The drive resulted in a 37-yard field goal from Corey Acosta to cut the Crimson Tide's lead to 28-9.

Perry, a fifth-year senior from Prattville, has started in each of the Crimson Tide's three games this season. Last season, he was granted a medical redshirt after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury two games into the season.

With defensive back Jarrick Williams set to miss at least two more games with a fractured bone in his foot, Alabama coach Nick Saban admitted the Crimson Tide will be somewhat undermanned in the secondary versus Florida.

"Obviously losing Nick (Perry) for a half next week will create some situations for us at safety," Saban said. "We just have to work everyone and see how we end up. Now that we lost Jarrick (Williams), who’s a safety, and Nick for half a game, we are getting a little thin there, especially when those guys play Star too."

Saban was asked if he thought the call was the correct one.

"I don't question the call that was made against Nick Perry," Saban said. "I don't think he did it intentionally but was it helmet-to-helmet? I think it probably was. I mean, I was standing right in front of it. Did he mean to do it? No, but you got to change your launch point and you got to see what you hit. Those are the kinds of plays we're trying to eliminate in football.

"Now do I think he did it on purpose? Do I think he's a bad person? Absolutely not. He's out there competing and playing hard, but it is the rule and I can't question the call. I really can't. I hate it that we lose him but just something that we have to learn from."

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