Kickoff returns down sharply after new rule on fair catches

Kickoff returns are down about 20 percent in the first year of a new NCAA rule that gives the receiving team possession at its 25-yard line if a fair catch is made anywhere between the goal line and 25.

According to NCAA figures provided to

The Associated Press, kick return men in the Football Bowl Subdivision made fair catches on about one out of every 10 kickoffs they received between the goal line and 25.

The rule was implemented to enhance player safety. Kick returns have been shown to have a higher injury rate compared with other types of plays because of the likelihood of high-speed player collisions.

Of the 9,079 kickoffs in the regular season, 41.2 percent (3,740) were returned. That’s down from 51.2 percent at this point last season.

Utah State: Former Utah State coach Gary Andersen has returned for a second stint with the Aggies. He previously was Utah State’s coach from 2009 to 2012.

Andersen replaces Matt Wells, who left for Texas Tech last month.

Andersen had a 26-24 record in his first stint with the Aggies and is 56-61 overall as a head coach.

He was an assistant at Utah this season after serving as head coach at Wisconsin and Oregon State.

Boston College: The contract of coach Steve Addazio was extended through 2022.

Addazio is 51-49 in six seasons, and the Eagles are in a bowl game for the fifth time in his tenure after going 7-5 this season.

Clemson: An autopsy report states that former Clemson running back C.J. Fuller died when a blood clot blocked an artery in his lung. Fuller died suddenly Oct. 3.

He played three years with the Tigers and was part of the 2016 national championship squad.

His death came two weeks after he had operation to repair a leg injury.