What's illegal with this?

yeah you’re not supposed to leap over players

Just because Brian Kelly or the LSU fanbase doesn't understand the rule, doesn't make it illegal.

Here is the text of the rule from the 2024 NCAA rulebook.

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Leverage and Leaping
ARTICLE 11
a No defensive player, in an attempt to gain an advantage, may step, jump or stand on an opponent
b It is a foul if a defensive player moves forward and tries to block a kick or apparent kick on a field goal or try by leaving their feet and leaping into the plane directly above the frame of the body of an opponent It is not a foul if the player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped
c It is a foul if a defensive player who is inside the tackle box tries to block a punt or an apparent punt by leaving their feet and leaping into the plane directly above the frame of the body of an opponent
1 It is not a foul if the player tries to block the punt by jumping straight up without attempting to leap over the opponent
2 It is not a foul if a player leaps through or over the gap between players
]d No defensive player, in an attempt to block, bat or catch a kick or apparent kick, may:
1 Step, jump or stand on a teammate
2 Place a hand(s) on a teammate to get leverage for additional height
3 Be picked up by a teammate, or be elevated, propelled or pushed

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Not the best framing, but the player is clearly in the gap and the LSU player moves over to "block" him.



Here's the video.

Thanks...I was hoping someone would post the rule so I could better understand it

If it’s for safety then why isn’t it illegal for a runner to hurdle a player?

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My question is, why is there any "leaping" rule? Safety?

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yeah. When their legs get caught up with the blockers then end up on their heads. Concussion and neck injuries are what is feared. Though i think if you one hope and clear the linemen, its legal.

Ask the officials for the 2004 lsu auburn game. Only time I can remember watching it called.

Thanks for posting the rule and the pic & video. However, you make the point that the player (as shown in your pic) was jumping through a gap, and therefore, was not in violation of the rule, but if you go back a split second, it clearly shows that he was jumping right over a player's body, which led to him being blocked to the side, into a "gap". So...
penalty?
USC jumper

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Is it safe? Or not?

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A runner hurdling a tackler? Imo I don't see anything wrong with your scenario or the punt block.

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Thanks for posting the rule and the pic & video. However, you make the point that the player (as shown in your pic) was jumping through a gap, and therefore, was not in violation of the rule, but if you go back a split second, it clearly shows that he was jumping right over a player's body, which led to him being blocked to the side, into a "gap". So... penalty? USC jumper

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This is what they can't admit. Initial contact of the leap was SC player's torso to the LSU blocker's helmet, which caused SC player to land in the gap. Just because he fell over to the side of the player he was jumping directly over doesn't mean he didn't leap directly over and risk paralysis for himself and the LSU player. Reckless and stupid.

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tackler normally has eyes on and is attempting to tackle runner. Tackler is able to protect himself. Snappers aren't able to.

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IIRC, when the rule was first proposed/implemented, the comment was that long snappers don't just have their head down but rotated so they are looking behind them for the signal to snap the ball. When the ball is snapped, they are coming up but also bringing their head up; not only are they pretty much blind to their surroundings for that first split second, their necks are exposed and the worry was someone attempting to leap over the center would get hit by someone else and land on the center's exposed neck area.