Definition of "True Freshman"

A true freshman refers to a student-athlete who is in their first year of college and is participating in collegiate sports for the first time. This means they have just graduated from high school, have not previously attended college, and have not used any athletic eligibility in a prior season

Key Points

• A true freshman is a first-year college student who immediately joins and competes for a college sports team

• The term is used to distinguish these athletes from redshirt freshmen , who may be in their second year of college but did not compete in games during their first year, preserving a year of athletic eligibility

• In college sports, especially football and basketball, it is notable when a true freshman earns significant playing time, as they are often younger and less experienced than their teammates

Comparison: True Freshman vs. Redshirt Freshman

Term| Academic Year| Athletic Eligibility| Competes in Games?
---|---|---|---
True Freshman| 1st year| 1st year| Yes (first season)
Redshirt Freshman| 2nd year| 1st year| Yes (after sitting out previous season)

A true freshman is simply a student-athlete competing in their first year of college, without having delayed their participation or preserved eligibility through redshirting