NASHVILLE – It was a proud moment for Hillcrest High School as former Patriot Brian Robinson saw his first action as a University of Alabama freshman, entering the Crimson Tide’s win over Vanderbilt as a running back in the second quarter.
Under current NCAA rules, the game action means that Robinson will not be a redshirt for the 2017 season.
The American Football Coaches Association made a recommendation last May to alter the redshirt rules, allowing players to appear in at least four games and still maintain a redshirt rather than “burning” the redshirt. The Southeastern Conference coaches voiced enthusiastic support for the proposal at their spring meetings in Destin, Fla., and the Atlantic Coast Conference has submitted the proposal to the NCAA’s Football Oversight Committee for action in the upcoming legislative session.
However, according to UA director of athletics Greg Byrne, the proposal is not in effect at this time. The existing rule only allows players to redshirt after seeing action if an injury in the early part of the season curtails further action.
Alabama has played a total of 15 true freshman through the Vanderbilt game. Here they are in alphabetical order:
Chris Allen
Thomas Fletcher
Najee Harris
Kedrick James
Jerry Jeudy
Alex Leatherwood
Xavier McKinney
LaBryan Ray
Brian Robinson
Henry Ruggs III
DeVonta Smith
Tua Tagovailoa
Major Tennison
Jedrick Wills
Daniel Wright
