Questions for College Football Fans

[Bertha Venation]

What is "red-shirting?" I heard "red-shirt freshman" and "red-shirt senior" this weekend. I've always heard the term but don't know what it means.

What is a fifth-year senior? I thought you could only play ball for four years. And what - did the guy purposely take too few credits each semester so that he'd be around for a fifth year?

And how can someone who has already graduated from the college play ball for it?

Thank you. :hi:

[SteppingRazor]

1. The two terms, redshirt freshman and fifth-year senior, are interrelated...

Yes, you can only play four years. But coaches may choose to "redshirt" a freshman, which means the freshman can attend classes at the university and even participate in practices with the team, but cannot play in games.

When someone is playing in a game and is called a "redshirt freshman," it means they are a sophomore, but playing in their first year of games. Of course, this means that, eventually, the person will be playing their fourth year of ball in a fifth year of college, hence the term "fifth-year senior."

[underpants]

3. Great answer AND you can redshirt in the middle of the 4 years of eligibility

They have 5 to play 4

There are some examples of people graduating and being given and extra year of eligibility (Florida player about 10 years ago) and there was a guy who played/was on the basketball team for NC State 7 years.

For the OP there are also "medical redshirts" which often are for catastrophic injuries early in a season-these have to be applied for

They changed the rules about 15 years ago too so that a guy can play minor league (paid) baseball but still playing college football.
There are a few examples of guys going completely pro but returning for another sport-a Georgia quarterback a while ago and Tim Dwight in the NFL who went back to run track at Iowa

This is an interesting case


Marcus Monk is currently on the Arkansas basketball team.
Marcus Monk (born April 26, 1986 in Lepanto, Arkansas) is a American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and was also a member of the New York Giants.

After not playing for an NFL team, Monk received permission to return to college for his final year of basketball eligibility. He is a current basketball player for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Monk was selected in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Monk signed a four-year rookie deal with the Bears on May 31, 2008. He was waived on August 24.

On August 26, 2008, Monk was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants after the team waived/injured wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe. However, he was waived by the team four days later during final cuts. On August 31, he was re-signed to the team's practice squad. He was released from the practice squad on September 8 after wide receiver Taye Biddle was signed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Monk

[SoxFan]

2. Stepping Razor explains it well

You see this more frequently at schools in power conferences, like the Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10, Southeastern, etc. The idea is that an athlete sometimes needs a year to either physically grow a bit more to catch up with his counterparts, or an athlete needs time to learn a complex offensive or defensive system. Very often, a quarterback will redshirt his first year and spend that season learning the offense, studying tape, practicing with the team, and hitting the wieght room to bulk up.

[GOPisEvil]

4. There are also medical redshirts.

If a player is injured very early in a season, he can be granted a waiver for an additional year (or even two) of playing eligibility.

And, graduate students are allowed to compete. So, although the player may have graduated, as long as he is a full-time graduate student, he can still play sports.

Oh, and "he" is generic, since redshirts are allowed in all sports.