I'm pretty sure that freshmen can play in the first three games and still receive a redshirt, as long as they don't enter any games after that.
Trindon is going to be fun to watch. He is lightening quick and definantly will be a game breaker when he gets some experience under his belt.
NCAA member institutions should note that according to NCAA Bylaws 14.02.6 and 17.02.8, intercollegiate competition occurs when a student-athlete in either a two-year or a four-year collegiate institution: (a) Represents the institution in any contest against outside competition, regardless of how the competition is classified (for example, scrimmage, exhibition or joint practice session with another institution's team) or whether the student is enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies; (b) Competes in the uniform of the institution or, during the academic year, uses any apparel (excluding apparel no longer used by the institution) or equipment received from the institution that includes institutional identification; or (c) Competes and receives expenses (for example, transportation, meals, room or entry fees) from the institution for the competition. In situations in which a student-athlete is seeking to "redshirt" to avoid using a season of competition (or for an ineligible student-athlete to avoid competing in violation of NCAA regulations and using a season of competition), the student-athlete may not participate in any event that meets the definition of "intercollegiate competition" in Bylaw 14.02.6. However, a student-athlete seeking to redshirt or an ineligible student-athlete (for example, partial qualifier or nonqualifier serving a year-in residence) may compete as an individual in an "open" event involving collegiate and noncollegiate competitors without using a season of competition (including an "open" event in which the collegiate competitors receive expenses from and/or score points for their respective institutions), provided the student-athlete represents only himself or herself, pays all of his or her own travel and competition expenses, does not wear any institutional uniforms or use any institutional equipment and does not score points for the institution. Therefore, if a student-athlete were to receive expenses from his or her institution to travel to and compete as an individual in an "open" event with the institution's team, the student-athlete would be deemed to have engaged in intercollegiate competition and to have used a season of competition (and, in the case of an ineligible partial qualifier or nonqualifier, to have competed in violation of NCAA rules), even if the student-athlete did not score points for the institution or wear the institution's uniform.
I will check into this, I thought they had a certain amount of time into the season to play before the redshirt was gone, like the 3rd game. All I am finding on the internet is saying they cannot play one down.
Institutions should note that in order for a student-athlete who is seeking to "redshirt" to avoid using a season of competition (or for an ineligible student-athlete to avoid competing in violation of NCAA regulations and using a season of competition), the student-athlete may not participate in any event that meets the definition of "intercollegiate competition" in NCAA Bylaw 14.02.6. This comes straight from the NCAA legislative assistance bylaws. I am pretty sure that the first three games of a football season constitute "intercollegiate competition"
Unless this is a new rule, there are apparently ways around it. Saban always talked about how complicated and vague the redshirt rules were. In any event, unless this is a new rule, lots of players have managed to recieve redshirts after competing in the first three games.
All of them will get hangnails or something that will prevent them from playing the rest of the season. Every team uses the loophole every year to get some guys on the field and test them out.
There is a way around it, and it is simple. They play the kids in the early games, come up with a sprain or pull, or spasm and file medical papers saying the kid will not be able to participate the rest of the season. Saban used to say something about 20% of the games, but I don't know the exact % before a medical is unavailable. They do it early so that the NCAA cannot say well the player completed 60% of the season and therefore is not eligible for a medical redshirt.
