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Is there any formal definition of an "eligible receiver" in the NCAA rulebook?
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I think the answer to this question is no. The term is not defined in Rule 2, definitions. However, it is made clear, in my vew, in Rule 7, Snapping and Passing the Ball. The term "eligible player" is also used to mean the same thing in certain places in the rules.
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if a Team A player is eligible at the start of the down by position and/or number, then he's an eligible receiver unless he does something to lose his eligibility like going OOB, regardless of the ball.
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I think this is correct but not complete. Remember if the ball is touched by team B, everyone on Team A becomes eligible. You have to weigh this against the rules (such as DPI) that make exceptions for the contact if the ball is touched by Team B (or an official). In other words, while A79 isn't eligible to begin the play, he becomes eligible when the ball is touched by B, but there can't be any DPI in that case. I can't think of much that could be called here that wouldn't already be an auto first down, but I think the rule is added as a catch-all.
Perhaps there was a weird play once where they didn't have a first down and were correct, but the committee felt they should allow it.