A true freshman is a student-athlete who is in their first year of college as an undergraduate and is participating in college sports for the first time without having used any of their athletic eligibility previously. This means they enrolled in college immediately after high school and are actively competing in their sport during their first academic year
. In contrast, a redshirt freshman is typically a student who is in their second year of college academically but is in their first year of athletic eligibility because they did not participate significantly in games during their first year (often to preserve eligibility). This allows them to compete for four full seasons despite being in their second academic year
. True freshmen often bring fresh talent and energy but may face challenges adjusting to the physical and mental demands of college-level sports
. They can either be full participants in games or may play sparingly while still maintaining their status as true freshmen if they have not exceeded participation limits that start their eligibility clock
. In summary, a true freshman is a first-year college athlete actively competing in their sport during their initial year of college enrollment.
