What does redshirting do?

[DaNextPhenom25]

Does it make the player better in his sophomore year since he redshirted?

[jello1717]

It allows a player to sit out 1 year and get better and then the following year still be a Freshman (not a Sophomore).

In NCAA '09 terms, you may sign a new player who has a 75 overall (OVR) rating. If you played him all four years his rating might go like this:
2009 -FR - 75
2010 -SO - 79
2011 -JR - 83
2012 -SR - 87
but if you redshirted him it might go like this:
2009 -(redshirt) - 75
2010 -FR(RS) - 78
2011 -SO(RS) - 82
2012 -JR(RS) - 86
2013 - SR(RS) - 90

[NE_Passat'n]

It can to an extent, not usually as well as if the player was active and got regular playing time. Basically redshirting is for those players buried in the depth chart, with little chance of playing, it allows you to save that year of eligibility.

I also take size in to consideration, though i don't think the game is really affected by a players weight. If i recruited a 240 lb DT, and i don't need him to play, i'll redshirt him and hope that he bulks up some.

[Bamboospine1998]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaNextPhenom25

Does it make the player better in his sophomore year since he redshirted?

It gives him an extra year to improve and still have four years to play.
It comes in handy if for example, you have a true freshman QB but he is behind other QB's on the depth chart and not going to play.

He will begin improving in the offseason but still have four more years to move up the depth chart and have improved ratings.

[mercalnd]

It preserves a year of eligibility. If you redshirt a freshman, he will still still be a freshman the next year. This is what they mean when they talk about true freshmen and redshirt freshmen.