What does redshirt mean in college football?
Redshirt is a year the player practices with the team, but is not on the active roster, and cannot participate in games. Often times, incoming freshman will redshirt for a year, then play their second year. That second year, they are referred to as, “redshirt freshman”, because though they are actual in their sophomore year of school, they are considered a freshman in athletics. Sometimes you will hear, “they just took the redshirt off Joe Blow and are putting him in at quarterback”. That means the playing was redshirting, but the coach and player have decided to forgo that extra year of eligibility and have that player play this year. Also, sometimes players are awarded a “medical redshirt” if they are hurt and miss most of the year.
