Redshirt - Though not an official term used by the NCAA, a redshirt

season is one in which a student athlete does not participate in games and thus

the year does not count towards his four years of eligibility. Typically these

are freshmen who sit out their first year with the team due to sufficient depth

at his position or the need to get into better physical condition. While a coach

or player may say that a player is "redshirting", there is no such official

designation and coaches can choose to play they at any time. Under NCAA rules,

if a player plays a single play in a game they have used that year of

eligibility.

Medical Hardship, a.k.a. medical redshirt - If a player misses a

season due to injury, they can apply for a medical hardship for that season so

that it does not count towards their four year of eligibility. Players can only

apply for a medical hardship, commonly called a medical redshirt, if they have

not played in more than 20% of the season's games or two games, whichever is

greater, or if they have not already missed a season due to a non-medical

redshirt (as defined above). However, if a player has a previous medical

hardship and later misses another whole season to injury, they are eligible for

a second medical hardship thus meaning they are on the team for six years to

play four.

Redshirt freshman - A student athlete who is a sophomore academically

but has not used any of his four years of athletic eligibility. Typically, a

redshirt freshman is a player that sat or rehabilitating form a medical

condition.

Redshirt sophomore, redshirt junior, redshirt senior,

fifth year senior - These terms are used to indicate that a player has had a

redshirt season. The reason is to note that while a sophomore has been on the

team for two years, a redshirt sophomore has been on the team for three years

and is therefore more experienced.

Grayshirt - A term not officially used by the NCAA, a grayshirt season

is one in which a player enrolls as a part time, non-scholarship, student at the

university. He does not practice with the team or participate in any organized

team functions, does not use a scholarship, does not use any eligibility, and

beings his career with the following season. In most instances, grayshirts are

used to allow for class separation when the depth chart is already full at the

position, or if a player needs time to rehabilitate from a medical condition

coming out of high school.