What does "redshirt" freshman mean?

Question

this always puzzles me. does it mean that the player was a freshman last year but this is his first year playing?

Answer 1

Exactly! Academically he's a sophomore but as far as playing a sport is concerned he's still a freshman.

Answer 2

The term redshirt freshman indicates an academic sophomore (second-year student) who is in the first season of athletic eligibility. A redshirt freshman is distinguished from a true freshman (first-year student) as one who has practiced with the team for the prior season. The term redshirt sophomore is also commonly used to indicate an academic junior (third-year student) who is in the second season of athletic eligibility. After the sophomore year the term redshirt is rarely used, instead the terms fourth year junior and fifth year senior are more common.