roughing the punter

Question
The punter recieves the snap cleanly and then drops the ball.  He regains the ball and kicks it. If the defense runs into him is it a penalty?

Answer
Brent
As you state it, it is a foul - either running into the kicker or roughing.  But there are many variables to answering this question such as what rules are you applying - NCAA or NFHS?  Also did the kicker move, run, was the snapp to the kicker outside the tackle Box and was it from an obvious legal scrimmage kick formation.  These all may affect theh answer to the question.


NCAA Football Rule 9-1-4:
Roughing or Running Into Kicker or Holder
ARTICLE 4. a. When it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be made, no
opponent shall run into or rough the kicker or the holder of a place kick
(A.R. 5-2-2-I and A.R. 9-1-4-I, III and VI).
1. Roughing is a personal foul that endangers the kicker or holder.
2. Running into the kicker or holder is a foul that occurs when the
kicker or holder is displaced from his kicking or holding position but
is not roughed (A.R. 9-1-4-II).
3. Incidental contact with a kicker or holder is not a foul.
4. The kicker and holder must be protected from injury, but contact
that occurs when or after a scrimmage kick has been touched is not
roughing or running into the kicker or holder.
5. The kicker抯 protection under this rule ends:
(a) When he has had a reasonable time to regain his balance (A.R.
9-1-4-IV); or
(b) When he carries the ball outside the tackle box (Rule 2-34) before
kicking.
6. A defensive player legally blocked into the kicker or holder by a
member of the kicking team is not exempt from fouls for running into
or roughing the kicker or holder. A defensive player illegally blocked
into the kicker or holder by a member of the kicking team is exempt
from fouls for running into or roughing the kicker or holder.
7. When a player, other than one who blocks a scrimmage kick, runs
into or roughs the kicker or holder, it is a foul.
8. When in question whether the foul is 搑unning into拻 or 搑oughing,拻
the foul is 搑oughing.拻
PENALTY桭ive yards from the previous spot for running into the
kicker or holder [S30]. 15 yards from the previous spot
and a first down for roughing the kicker or holder if the
first down is not in conflict with other rules [S38 and S30].
Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified [S47].
b. A kicker or holder simulating being roughed or run into by a defensive
player commits an unsportsmanlike act (A.R. 9-1-4-V).
PENALTY?5 yards from the previous spot [S27].
c. The kicker of a free kick may not be blocked until he has advanced five
yards beyond his restraining line or the kick has touched a player, an
official or the ground.
PENALTY?5 yards from the previous spot [S40].

Approved Rulings:

Roughing or Running Into Kicker or Holder桝RTICLE 4
Approved Ruling 9-1-4
I. A1 catches a long snap and plans to punt from behind his line of
scrimmage but misses the ball, which falls to the ground. A1 is then
contacted by B1. RULING: Team A fumble. There is no kicker until
the ball is kicked, so B1 is not guilty of roughing the kicker.
II. A1 kicks the ball, after which B1, unable to stop his attempt to block
the kick, runs into the kicker or holder. RULING: Penalty桭ive
yards from the previous spot. Roughing and 15 yards and first
down if in question as to whether the foul is 搑unning into拻 or
搑oughing.拻
III. A1, from a nonscrimmage kick formation, makes a quick, unexpected
kick so suddenly that B1 cannot avoid contact. RULING: This is not
roughing or running into the kicker since the rule applies only when
it is reasonably obvious that a kick will be made.
IV. B1 runs into player A1, who has kicked the ball and has had a
reasonable time to regain his balance. RULING: Not a foul by B1
unless ruled as running into or throwing himself against an opponent
obviously out of the play (Rule 9-1-2-j).
V. After B1 runs into the kicker, kicker A25 simulates being roughed.
RULING: Offsetting fouls.
VI. Kicker A1, in a scrimmage kick formation, moves laterally two or
three steps to recover a faulty snap, or recovers a snap that went
over his head and then kicks the ball. He is contacted by B2 in
an unsuccessful attempt to block the kick. RULING: A1 does not
automatically lose his protection in either case unless he carries the
ball outside the tackle box. While in the tackle box A1 is entitled
to protection as in any other kicking situation. When it becomes obvious that A1 intends to kick in a normal punting position, defensive players must avoid him.

VII. Punter A22 is 15 yards behind the neutral zone when he catches
the long snap, sprints to his right at an angle toward the line of
scrimmage, and runs outside the tackle box. He then stops and
punts the ball, and is immediately hit by a diving B89. RULING:
Legal play, no foul by B89. A22 loses his roughing or running-into
protection by carrying the ball outside the tackle box.

XVIII. A10 is in a shotgun-type formation 7-1/2 yards behind the snapper, who has his head down and is looking backward through his legs. Immediately after the snap, nose guard B55
charges directly at the snapper and contacts him by pushing him backward. RULING: Legal. The snapper is not afforded any special protection because it was not reasonably obvious that a kick might be attempted (Rule 2-15-10). The snapper does have the usual protection against any personal foul for unnecessary roughness.

XIX. Team A is in an obvious scrimmage kick formation. Immediately after the snap, nose guard B55 charges directly at the snapper, contacts him, and drives him backward. The ball is snapped to an upback three yards behind the scrimmage line or to the potential kicker, who instead runs with or passes the ball. RULING: Foul. Penalty?5 yards and automatic first down. The snapper may
not be contacted until one second has elapsed after the snap when Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation and it is reasonably obvious that a kick might be attempted.