Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes announced Monday night after the Vols’ win over Tennessee Tech that freshman wing DJ Jefferson would be redshirting this season.

Jefferson, a bouncy 4-star recruit out of Minnesota, is one of 5 newcomers to the Vosl program this year. He was the No. 122 recruit in the nation per 247Sports and a capable athlete.

Barnes explained his reasoning for redshirting Jefferson Monday.

“You never redshirt a guy unless you know he’s going to be a factor in your program,” Barnes said postgame. “There’s no doubt he has a chance to be a real factor. I think it’s going to affect him tremendously because everyone we’ve ever done that with it has paid off if they do their part and there’s no question in my mind that I think he will. Certainly we hope he will.”

Tennessee downed Tennessee Tech 75-43 Monday night in the season opener. It will play Colorado on Sunday in Nashville for its next test.