The Gophers’ top returning tackler, linebacker Cody Poock, was ejected for a targeting penalty in the first quarter of Thursday’s season opener against Oregon State. That was just the beginning.

Fellow linebacker Jon Celestin and defensive end Tai’yon Devers were also be sent off with the stern punishment for a penalty which aims to keep players safer from direct hits to an opponent’s helmet.

“I don’t know if we had one when I was defensive coordinator,” said coach Tracy Claeys, who led Minnesota’s defense from 2011-15. “Maybe one in the last four years.”

The only known prior targeting call against the Gophers came in the Citrus Bowl after the 2014 season. Briean Boddy-Calhoun was flagged for targeting, but it was overturned.

Poock, who had 99 tackles in 2015, hit Beavers receiver Landry Payne as quarterback Darell Garretson’s pass fell incomplete. The play was reviewed by Pac-12 referee Chris Coyte and upheld.

Poock, who had two tackles in the game, was upset, but Claeys did not respond to the officials, according to KQQL-FM.

The penalty on third and six kept the Beavers’ drive alive, and they went on to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

In the third quarter, Celestin was ejected when he hit Garretson as the quarterback tried to slide. In the fourth quarter, Devers was sent off for hitting Garretson after he released a pass in the pocket.

“I’m all for that rule,” Claeys said. “It’s hard — the one like Jon — he’s aiming lower on the quarterback when he’s scrambles. Then (Garretson) goes feet first and that makes him hit him in the head. We just go back and look at the film, and everyone’s got to lower their target down.”

Since Celestin and Devers were ejected in the second half, they will likely to have to sit out the first half of the game against Indiana State on Sept. 10. The only recourse is the conference can consult the national coordinator of football officials for a review, and the coordinator must conclude that the player should not have been disqualified, according to NCAA rules.

The conference which can ask for the consultation is believed to be the Pac-12 because it was their crew of officials that called Thursday’s game.

THREE OUT

Three Gophers offensive skill position players were ruled out of Thursday night’s game. Receiver Eric Carter (ankle), running back Shannon Brooks (foot) and tight end Brandon Lingen (shoulder) did not play.

Carter and Brooks did not suit up, while Lingen dressed and went through some of the warmups. They were all absent from the first depth chart on Aug. 23.

“We played down two of our best offensive players in Brandon and Shannon Brooks,” Claeys said.

Claeys offered an outside chance Tuesday of Brooks returning from a broken bone in his right foot. Brooks, who did not wear a protective boot on the sideline, was hurt before Aug. 9, with the timetable for his return being three to five weeks.

Also, backup left tackle Chad Fahning did not dress for an undisclosed reason. Wide receiver Rashad Still left the game in the third quarter after hitting the turf, and backup linebacker Nick Rallis exited in the second quarter. Still had X-rays done on his shoulder, while Rallis was dealing with a hand injury, according to KQQL-FM.

MORTELL WAITING

In the 2015 season opener, receiver KJ Maye led the Gophers with four receptions, 73 yards and a touchdown, and Minnesota punter Peter Mortell had seven punts with a 45.4 yard average.

This week, those departed Minnesota seniors, who had signed NFL free-agent contracts, are looking for new opportunities after being cut by NFL franchises. Maye was let go by the New York Giants, and Mortell exited the Green Bay Packers’ camp.

“Waiting on a call,” Mortell texted the Pioneer Press. “I have good preseason film so my agent sounds pretty confident I’ll have some workouts during the season or after. Now it’s just training hard back in (hometown of Green Bay).”

Maye, who had one reception for 17 yards in the preseason, was released Tuesday. “Maye flashed, but he was lost behind (three other receivers),” wrote James Kratch of NJ.com.

Fellow 2015 Gophers who got shots in the NFL were defensive end Theiren Cockran, who was cut by the Vikings this week, and cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who remains in training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

NFL teams must reduce rosters to the max of 53 players by Monday.

SHERELS SHOWS UP

Gophers linebackers coach Mike Sherels, who is on leave after being hospitalized for multiple surgeries, was on the sideline Thursday. He has visited practice and been at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex at limited times since being released from the U hospital less than two weeks ago.

Sherels remains out indefinitely as he recovers, with Keith Jordan as acting LB coach.

LIMITED AVAILABITY ON WEST COAST

Thursday night’s season opener aired locally on Big Ten Network, but Beavers fans in Oregon didn’t have a readily available option to watch the game. The Pac 12 Network did not carry the game.

“Why isn’t it at minimum on the Pac 12 Network?” asked John Canzano of 750 The Game radio station in Portland, Ore. “We know what they will be rerunning is a volleyball game from 1972.”