College football’s new redshirt rule is a major storyline of the 2018 season. The fact that a player can play in up to four games and still take a “redshirt” for the season (have not count as one of his four seasons of eligibility) is leading to what some in the national media are calling pseudo agency as players from Power 5 schools are increasingly announces plans to transfer during the season. Florida RB Adarius Lemons made his announcement after the Gators’ second game of the season. This week, Auburn has had three players – TE Jalen Harris, WR Nate Craig-Myers and DB Jayvaughn Myers – make the decision to transfer from the team.

On his weekly radio show, Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about his thoughts on the redshirt rule and the increase in transfers. Saban expressed his opinion that the redshirt rule was created with young players in mind, but is being “manipulated” by older players.

“I think that the intent of the rule was that you could have a young player who was a developmental player and we had to make a decision that was all or nothing in the past,” Saban said. “If the guy played one play, he lost the whole year. So, I think the intent of the rule was to allow a young player to be able play in some games to enhance his development, but if he didn’t play enough in the game games that you could still redshirt him.

“Now, I think that people are manipulating the rule in terms of older players who may be thinking, ‘I could be a graduate transfer, so maybe if I only play in four games this year, I’ll have a place to play next year.’ I don’t think that was really the intent of the rule. It’s probably one of those unintended consequences of what all rules sort of bring.

“But I think it’s a good thing, and I think it’s a good thing for young players because we can actually play some guys, they can get some playing time, it can enhance their development, it can teach them better what they need to learn to do to prepare and play in games, what the competition is like. And I think it will help them in the future, and you still have the opportunity to redshirt them.”

As Saturday Down South’s own Connor O’Gara points out, the redshirt rule is about to become a big topic of discussion in Tuscaloosa.