Is a QB an eligible receiver on a HB pass?

Question

When a team has the HB throw can he throw it past the line of scrimmage to the QB as if he was a receiver?

Answer 1

Yes...all players in the offensive backfield are eligible recievers or runners of the ball. In reference to the QB, he becomes an eligible reciever as long as the ball is touched first by another eligible receiver, meaning that a lineman cannot throw a pass to him, but a RB or WR can throw to him. This also includes the tight end(s). Rules require that there be five down linemen - center, two guards, and two tackles - on each play, and any player reporting in at one of those positions is catch the ball past the line of scrimmage unless there is a fumble. For example, when a pass is deflected, and an offensive lineman has the ball fall into his hands (and make no mistake, they don't catch the ball consciously, it just sort of "happens" to them), that is considered an illegal play, because the player did not report or line up as an eligible receiver of the ball. BUT if a pass is deflected, the QB is allowed to catch, and if possible, advance the ball, as he reported and lined up in an eligible position. Therefore, if a play is instituted that has the QB hand off to the HB or FB, the QB can advance past the line of scrimmage and receive a pass from said offensive back.

Answer 2

Absolutely. The HB can also throw a backwards pass behind the line of scrimmage and the QB can either run or throw the ball downfield. Even to the HB that started it all.

In the NCAA, not in the pros, a player can be ineligible by rule to catch a pass. Players numbered 50 through 79 are never eligible to catch a pass either beyond or behind the line of scrimmage. These numbers are usually assigned to interior linemen on the offense and they are never eligible to "first touch" a forward pass. Defensive players also use these numbers.

Answer 3

Yes, the QB is a eligable reciever on any given play where someone else is taking the roll of the QB.

In fact in the 2002 season Tom Brady of the Patriots actually caught a pass in a designed play he was wide open and got about 16 yards on the play.
Also from this season Tom Brady threw a backward pass to Randy Moss who then threw back to Brady who could have either ran with it or threw it himself. He threw it as per the design and the play went for a touchdown.
You wont see the QB catching the ball often but when it does happen it usually goes for a big gain as the defense is not prepared for it.

Answer 4

Yes the QB is an eligible receiver on a HB pass or WR pass as well as one for any pass thrown by himself.

Answer 5

If the QB hands off or laterals the ball and runs a pass route, he is an eligible receiver. The ball can only be passed forward once in a play.

Answer 6

The QB is an eligible receiver...oftentimes the QB will drift away from the flow of the blocking to perhaps catch the defense forgetting this and leaving him wide open for a ctach and gain.

Answer 7

QB is always an eligible receiver even if he is throwing the ball. RE: Brett Favre's first completion in the NFL.

Answer 8

QB is always an eligible receiver, he can even be an eligible receiver for himself (Brett Favre completed his first pass to himself) with some conditions.

Answer 9

yes the qb is an eligible eciever on the hb pass

Answer 10

yes but it hardly happens because the risk of injury...
but it might be a smart play to line up a wr at qb and hand it off and then have the "qb" go out and catch the ball.