It doesn't matter where it occurs in college - there is no illegal contact and 5 yard rule. As long as the pass isn't thrown it's legal to hit and make contact with receivers.Was definitely unnecessary roughness. Was inside 5 yards of the LOS. Easton Dean got hurt against Ohio on a very similar play where he was completely blown up by a linebacker (enough that he got the wind knocked out of him) and it was completely legal.
It was an personal foul for unnecessary roughness. They call these for hits or blocks away from the play. However, the only way that play can be a penalty is if the ball is thrown already and it's on the other side of the field and downfield, to the point that it's pretty clear that the players in question are not going to be a factor in the play.