When the Fresno State football players run onto the field for the first game of the season and the excitement is in the air, most fans understand some of these players will not play this year.
After the season begins, the countdown begins when the coaching staff will decide which of these players they will redshirt.
Head coach Pat Hill plays a big role in determining who redshirts every season.
“There are two usages of that term [redshirt], one is a medical [redshirt], a young man gets injured in the early part of the season and he can’t perform,”Hill said. “He has five years in which to play four so that can count as a year that he sits out of football and the other one would be if he is not ready to play yet mentally or physically.”
Redshirting players every year allows them to still have four years of eligibility.
“Usually they’re not ready to play or we have enough depth and just need to get them more mature,” Hill said.
Redshirting can be beneficial to a players’ development, especially if they are younger players entering the program for the first time.
“It gives [them] a chance to learn the system and all the things that go along with being a college student and out of the house for the first time.”
Although players get redshirted every year, many advantages come from it.
In 2007, receiver Rashad Evans played as a true freshman hauling in 21 receptions for 232 yards. He also contributed with a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown against Louisiana Tech.
But heading into his sophomore season, Evans pulled his hamstring and was forced to use his redshirt season.
Sitting out paid off for Evans as he has recovered from the hamstring injury and now contributes to the offense as a starter.
“[Redshirting] improved my game, I got to work on all the technical things. [It allowed me] to remember plays and work on my route running so it worked out pretty good.”
While redshirting last year, Evans was voted offensive scout player of the year, giving the defense a good look and helping them prepare for opposing offenses.
“[I was] just trying to give our defense a look since I was redshirting. It was the best I could do for the team and I did it with my full potential.”
The redshirt year helped Evans grow as a player, something he feels others can benefit from as well.
“It helps in development, but some players are ready to go like (true freshman wide receiver) Isaiah Burse. [Some are] just ready to play out the gate and some aren’t. Everybody goes through the development stage.”
One player who could potentially redshirt is highly touted sophomore quarterback Derek Carr.
Last year as a true freshman, Carr played in five games and completed 10-of-14 passes for 112 yards. By playing last year, Carr was unable to redshirt then, but is likely to use it this season.
With returning starting quarterback Ryan Colburn back for his senior season and playing healthy, Carr redshirting is looking even more promising.
The Bakersfield Christian graduate, like Evans, looks at the positives of redshirting.
“It’s a win-win, I’m either going to be playing next year or this year,” Carr said. “It’s all in a matter of time. It is God’s will, whenever he wants me on the field.”
Carr also said the redshirt year could benefit him off the field as well.
“It is just going to be more reps [for me],” he said. “One more year under my belt to get bigger, stronger, faster and just gain more knowledge.”
Even if Carr is redshirted this year, he is still going to continue to prepare the same way.
“I know God [has] a plan for me in the end, so I’m just going to keep working harder to get to the top of the game and see where God wants to take [me]from there.”