College football rules committee recommends several changes

The NCAA Football Rules Committee recommended three changes in the name of player safety Friday, with the Playing Rules Oversight Panel scheduled to discuss the recommended changes April 19.

The three main proposals are to prohibit defensive players from leaping or hurdling offensive linemen on field-goal attempts, to require players to wear knee pads and pants that cover their knees, and to include the nameplate area of the jersey in the horse-collar tackle rule.

“Our committee’s most significant charge is to enhance the health and safety of our student-athletes when possible,” Bob Nielson, chair of the committee and coach at South Dakota, said in a release. “Each of these rules changes address areas that help us accomplish this goal.”

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Because these changes are related to health and safety, they are allowed for 2017, even though it is a non-rule-change year for football.

The committee also placed heightened points of emphasis that warrant further discussion — namely, sideline management by coaches toward officials and administrative matters aimed at addressing the increased length of games.

The committee also extended for another season the experimental rules of collaborative replay and the Ivy League’s kickoff experiment, which calls for the ball to be kicked from the 40 and to be spotted at the 20 after touchbacks.

Oh, and in case you’re interested, the targeting rule is not being changed, at least for now.

“The change we have witnessed in player behavior has been significantly positive,” Nielson said. “The adjustment made last year to allow the replay official to examine all aspects of the targeting rule was a positive change.”

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Matt Fortuna is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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