The runner is considered down when either a: His forward progress stops or b: any part of his body other than his foot or hand touches the ground AND he is touched by a player of an opposing team.
There is no "down by contact" in College Football. That's only in the pros. When a college player goes down he cannot get up and continue running, period. He does not have to be touched by an opposing player to be considered down.
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It depends. If your knee is touching the ground, or if the ball is, you are considered "down by contact". If both the ball and your knee are off the ground, you are still able to get up and run. (This has happened numerous times with players falling over an opposing player, landing on their feet and continuing on)
Not in the NFLNope. At least not in the NFL. If a ball carrier falls down on top of an opposing player and does not otherwise touch the ground, he is not considered down by contact and may continue to advance the ball.Some part of the ball carrier's body, other than his hands or feet, has to make contact with the ground for him to be considered down(Technically, a knee or elbow or helmet has to make contact with the turf for the carrier to be down).This is true for all levels of football play: HS, NCAA, NFL.
No, it is considered a completed pass. A receiver may go to the ground to catch the ball, as long as it doesn't hit the ground.
When the player who has the ball has a knee or elbow on the ground when in contact with a player from the opposite team. When the player that has the ball touches any other body part besides his hands on the ground and is in contact with a player from the opposite team.
What matters is where the ball is when any part of your body besides your foot or hand touch the ground. Or if you get caught and pushed back, it's the point of maximum forward progress, on the theory that the play ended when you started to be pushed backwards.