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Billy Napier weighs in on college football rule changes for 2022

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•08/23/22•

ZachAbolverdi

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Florida coach Billy Napier. (Photo by Jordan McKendrick/UAA Communications)

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The NCAA has instituted several new rules for the 2022 college football season. The most notable changes deal with targeting, faking injuries and blocking below the waist.

Targeting still carries a 15-yard penalty and an ejection for making forcible above-the-shoulder contact with the crown of the helmet. However, players ejected in the second half that must sit out the first half of the next game can now appeal their punishment by requesting a review from the national coordinator of officials.

In an attempt to crack down players faking injuries, schools and conferences can now report questionable scenarios to the national coordinator of officials. After feedback from the coordinator, any penalties would be determined by the conference office or school involved.

In an effort to decrease knee injuries, the NCAA will now only allow linemen and stationary backs in the tackle box to block opposing players below the waist.

Florida coach Billy Napier weighed in on the rule changes this week.

“All these things are I think good for the game,” he said. “Obviously, player safety being at the core of most of them and then certainly a level of integrity relative to the faking injuries and all of that. The only issue I see, you know, the one area I think is pretty significant is the perimeter cut blocks, in particular, all of these perimeter plays that are essentially running plays on the perimeter where you have to block.

“The ability to cut has been a factor in some of those. So just how you coach those. I think our system, for the most part, we’re going to be able to continue to do what we do. I think they’re all good, well-thought-out decisions and certainly ones that I think reflect improving the quality of the game and the safety of the game.” 

Here are the other rule changes for 2022, according to the Associated Press.

— If a ball carrier simulates a feet-first slide, officials will declare the runner down at that spot. The move came after a fake slide that Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett used to help clear his path for a long touchdown run in the ACC championship game.

— Defensive holding will remain a 10-yard penalty but will always carry an automatic first down.

— The replay official will address any clock adjustment and status only when a ruling is overturned with less than two minutes in the second or fourth quarters.

— Illegal touching by an originally ineligible player is penalized 5 yards from the previous spot and now includes loss of down.

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