Illegal Forward Pass from End Zone on Free Kick

[bisonlj]

Saw this odd play in a college game and I don't know if the officials got it right.

K kicks off to start the second half and R80 catches it 5 yards deep in the end zone. Another player from R steps in front of him to keep him from running it out. R80 never takes a knee and the covering official doesn't blow the play dead. R80 then flips the ball foward to the official who jumps out of the way because it is still a live ball. The ball is recovered by R at the 3 yard line as the official throws a flag for an illegal forward pass.

The officials huddle and the R announces touchback with no explanation. Was this because they were giving him the benefit of the doubt for not running it out? Should this have been an illegal forward pass? If it was, would the enforcement be a safety or would it be from the 20 since K had the force that put it in the end zone? If it's the latter, K would have declined the penalty to pin R back at the 3. It was an interesting play that raised a lot of questions.

phansen...I know you saw this play as well so I'm curious to hear your thoughts.