NCAA, Holding eligible receiver?
 

Having problems finding something in the rule book and need clarification on a couple of things. Holding on an eligible receiver is a automatic first down but where is its enforcement spot? Also does a pass have to been thrown to have the automatic first down. i.e. a eligible receiver is held and the qb gets sacked, is this just defensive holding at this point? Please answer in reference to NCAA rules

If I understand your question right, I think Rule 9-4 covers this. Some are basic spot enforcement, and some are previous spot.

Keep in mind that if the ball is thrown and you can put this into a DPI foul, do so.

Rule 9, Section 3, Article 4

e. When a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone during a forward-pass play and a contact foul that is not pass interference is committed beyond the neutral zone, the enforcement spot is the previous spot. This includes Rule 9-3-4-c (A.R. 7-3-9-I and A.R. 9-3-4-I and II).

PENALTY—10 or 15 yards from the previous spot, plus first down if the foul occurred against an eligible receiver before the pass was touched [S38, S42, S43 or S45].

APG has the proper rule citation. As you can see, a pass has to be thrown beyond the neutral zone and the hold has to have occurred beyond the neutral zone in order for the automatic first down to apply.