It is common for college football commentators to use the term true freshman. But many football fans don’t understand what it means.
The term true freshman refers to a football player who is competing in their first year of school. A redshirt freshman is a player who is competing in their first year of sports but not in their first year of school.
The fact that a true freshman is able to get playing time on a college football team is quite impressive.
The majority of high school football players cannot make the transition from high school to college. These players will either redshirt or sit out the first year or two.
In college, true freshmen that get playing time are usually very talented athletes. Since these players are straight out of high school, they are often smaller and weaker than their counterparts.
With players redshirting, some college football players will be in their mid-twenties.
There is something quite challenging about playing against players who are eighteen or nineteen years old.
What are the Differences Between a Freshman and a True Freshman?
There are a few different terms regarding freshmen in college football that can be confusing.
In college sports, a freshman is typically someone who is in their first year of eligibility.
It is only possible for college athletes to play college sports for a few years before they can no longer do so.
According to our earlier discussion, a true freshman is a student/player in his/her first year of sports.
The term freshman refers to anyone who is in their first year of college sports.
The terms true freshman and redshirt freshman are used to identify these types of players.
A redshirt freshman is an athlete who attended classes but did not participate in their sport during their redshirt year.
In their first year of school, true freshmen play sports and attend classes.
What Causes Players to Redshirt?
In light of the fact that many athletes opt to redshirt their first year of sports, you may be wondering why they do so.
Due to their size and strength, players often redshirt and do not become true freshmen.
It’s often the case that high school athletes will not be able to compete in college sports due to their size.
These players do not burn out a year of eligibility by not being at a level at which they can perform. Instead, they spend an entire year in the gym getting more muscular and stronger.
Additionally, a player may not be a true freshman if they do not get any playing time.
If a freshman shows up to football camp and discovers the starter at his position will be drafted to the NFL the following year, he won’t be able to beat this player.
In place of the starter, the freshman will sit on the bench until next season.
In situations like this, players often choose to redshirt their first year.
As a result, they can wait for a position to open up in the starting lineup without losing their eligibility.