LOS ANGELES — Southern California linebacker Desman Stephens II is receiving backlash for what appeared to be him celebrating following his vicious and unsportsmanlike hit that severely injured Dante Moore.
Early in the second quarter of Saturday's the Big Ten battle, Moore was scrambling inside USC territory when he was sliding and Stephens used his forearm to hit Moore directly in the head. Moore's head hit the grass and he wasn't moving immediately afterward as support staff and teammates rushed to check on him.
Meanwhile, Oregon players went to confront Stephens and after a small scuffle finished, Stephens was still seen celebrating the late hit as he made his way back to the sideline. While Moore was attended to in a scary moment inside Los
Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Stephens was seen on the NBC broadcast smiling and high-fiving teammates. He was assessed a target penalty and disqualified from the game.
Given the nature of the hit, people across social media condemned Stephens not only for the play, but how he acted afterward while Moore was still down. Oregon coach Dan Lanning appeared to be frustrated with Stephens' reaction as he checked on his quarterback.
At halftime, most members of the NBC studio crew said Stephens' antics were "inappropriate" and a bad look for USC.
“I think some of the antics after the play are what people can and should be disappointed with. I thought that was inappropriate," Joshua Perry said.
"The fact that Desmon Stephens II was over on the sidelines laughing, guys were coming over to him dapping him up, like saying 'Good job,'" Chris Simms added. "That was a bad look for USC."
NBC reporter Nicole Auerbach added she believes the Big Ten should look at the play and aftermath for possible punishment on Stephens.
"It was a terrible look. A terrible look for USC," she said.
Moore was taken out of the stadium and into an ambulance to be transferred to Los Angeles General Hospital. Lanning told NBC's sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen that Moore had movement in all his extremities and "We're getting him checked out. We have to be thorough with our evaluation."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Desman Stephens' hit on Dante Moore was ugly. His reaction drew even more criticism
