Do Most College Football Freshmen Redshirt?

I'm a junior and I've been getting scouted for football. I was wondering, is it common for freshman college football players to redshirt their first year? Seems kinda like a big decision to make.

Yes, it is fairly common for college football programs to "redshirt" freshman players. This concept comes from the practice of having the player sit out from competition for a year (and often wear a red shirt in practice) to develop their skills, conditioning, and understanding of the team's systems without burning a year of their eligibility. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules permit student-athletes to have four seasons of competition in a five year period, so the redshirt year provides an extra year to compete.

Athletes are commonly redshirted if the coaching staff believes they might greatly benefit from an additional year of growth, or if there are several upperclassmen already playing in their position, limiting their opportunities to play significantly. Therefore, redshirting isn't necessarily an indicator of lacking talent but a strategic decision to maximize the athlete's potential and collegiate career.

However, not all freshmen will redshirt and this will depend on an individual's readiness both athletically and academically, the team's needs in their position, among other factors. The decision is typically made in consultation with the coaching staff, the athlete, and sometimes their families. It's a common part of collegiate sports and can often be a beneficial decision in the long run.