Conflicting Penalties

Question
I saw this pair of calls this weekend, I believe in the MI/PS game: One of (Michigan's) receivers lined up incorrectly (I've never understood the rules on that covered/uncovered, on the line/off the line) and was inelligible.  Nonetheless he went out for a pass and was interferred with.  The call was inelligble receiver downfield and pass interference, offsetting, do over.  It seems to me that if the guy was inelligible it should be impossible to interfere.  No?

Dave

Answer
Dave
your line of reasoning is correct.  I have searched YouTube for the play but could not find it.  I am somewhat confused by the two penalties.  It is possible that the TV commentators announced reported the fouls incorrectly.

For DPI Rule 7-3-8 requires there to be contact beyond the neutral zone by the defense against an "eligible opponent" and that there be legal catchable forward pass that crosses the neutral zone.  If the offensive player was not eligible per rule 7-3-3 then there could be no DPI.  To be eligible the player must be positioned at the snap:

on the end of the line of scrimmage; or
in the backfield; and
must wearing number 1-49; 80-99

The rule governing ineligibles down field (7-3-10) states "No originally ineligible receiver shall be or have been beyond the neutral zone until a legal forward pass has crossed the neutral zone..."  A receiver is deemed ineligible if he is not wearing the proper number and if he was not positioned on the end of the line of scrimmage or in the backfield at the snap.

Thus for there to be PI the receiver must be eligible.  Since The play you describe involves an ineligible Offensive receiver and is penalized for it there can be no DPI.  However there could be defensive holding or a defensive personal foul against that ineligible receiver, but not DPI.

Vic Winnek