punt block

Question
In college football, if you are on punt block, you get a great break on the snap, slip between the line, could you dive through the two upblockers protecting the punter and go straight for the tackle of the punter?  Or must you stop and try to block the punt and not go through the blockers?

Answer
John
Based on your play situation you are allowed to tackle the punter.  If the punter is not in the "act of kicking" he is considered a runner/ball carrier and you may tackle him.  If he is in the act of kicking - i.e. he has started the process of kicking the ball you cannot tackle him, at that point you may block the kick - but you cannot intentionally rough the kicker as as you are in the process of blocking. You may make contact with the kicker and not draw a penalty if you block the kick and make contact with he kicker.  A defender may always drive through the blockers.  A defender does not have to "stop" and try to block the kick, he may continue through with his momentum, he just cannot rough or run into the kicker without blocking or partially blocking the kick.