A redshirt freshman is a college student-athlete who sits out of gameplay their freshman year and begins their first athletic season during their sophomore year. This means that they are an athletic “freshman” and an academic sophomore. Redshirting is a delay or suspension of an athletes participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility). Redshirting provides the opportunity for student-athletes to take classes for an academic year and become accustomed to the academic and physical rigors of university athletics. They may also redshirt to undergo a year of practice with a team prior to participating in competition). In Division I football, redshirt freshmen can compete in up to four games against other schools and keep their redshirt status. The term "redshirt freshman" indicates an academic sophomore who is in their first season of athletic participation). Being a redshirt freshman means a student-athlete sits out of gameplay during their freshman year. They’re academically a sophomore, but athletically a freshman since their sophomore year is their first year of athletic participation.