KaVontae Turpin jukes out entire team practicing new kickoff rule

The NFL announced the change in rules to the kickoff for the 2024 season back in March. Though it will take some getting used to, the rules will benefit some punt returners in the league. One of those is the Dallas Cowboys’ return specialist, KaVontae Turpin, who averaged 29.2 yards per kick return last season. With the new rules, and by the way he’s looking in training camp, that average is highly likely to increase.

“I’m very hopeful with this new rule just because now, it’s going to be harder to kick it away from me,” said Turpin. “It’s a better opportunity.”

What are the new NFL kickoff rules?

Under the new rules, the kicker will still kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 members of the kickoff unit will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line, and the return team must have at least nine blockers between the 30- and 35-yard line. Once the ball is kicked, if it is caught between the end zone and the 20-yard line, it must be returned (there is no more fair catch). If the kick does not reach the landing zone (between end zone and 20-yard line), the ball will be placed at the 40-yard line. If it goes out of the end zone or is downed in the end zone like a regular touchback, then the ball will be placed at the 30-yard line. If it lands in the landing zone and then rolls into the end zone and is downed, the ball will be placed at the 20-yard line.

Because of that last rule, it’s likely that most NFL teams will deploy two returners to make sure there is someone to pick up the ball before it bounces into the end zone and they have to place the ball at the 20 instead of the 30. Of course, then if the returner picks up the ball to keep it from bouncing out, they risk getting tackled before arriving to the 20 as well, as the kickoff team and blockers can’t move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20.

Watch Turpin dominate new NFL kickoff rules

In theory, the rules will encourage returns and in theory, that will be a very positive thing for KaVontae Turpin. On Sunday, we got to see him putting the new rule into action in training camp.

In the video, we can see Turpin taking the kickoff and then juking out the entire team to run down the middle of the field. This is exactly the kind of thing the Cowboys hope to see during the regular season. Though we’re likely to only get a small glimpse into what they have up their sleeves for Turpin with this new change, it’s an exciting opportunity for electric return specialists like himself.

Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel was actually the one to spearhead the change in kickoff rules. And while he’s confident in Turpin if given the opportunity to return, he believes many teams might not even give him the chance, preferring to go for a touchback and bring it to the 30.

“I was hopeful that we were gonna make the touchback the 35, which was under discussion,” said Fassel. “But a lot more [coaches] were in favor of the 30. Because if it was the 35, I don’t think anybody is giving a touchback on purpose. But at the 30, you can be like, Cordarrelle Patterson, KaVontae Turpin, Keisean Nixon, hell with it. Give them the ball at the 30.”

Turpin has proven, however, that if he does get the chance, he can become one of the most dangerous punt returners in the league.