The new rule that takes effect in 2016 creates a new class of recruit called an academic redshirt. Think of it as the old Prop 48 partial qualifiers being brought back.

For the past 10 years, an athlete who isn't a full academic qualifier is simply just a non-qualifier. He has to go to JUCO and get an associate degree if he wants to play right away. The other option is to enroll in an NCAA school, pay his own way for a year, and be in good academic standing at all times. You lose a year of eligibility going this route though.

Under the new rule, the partial qualifiers/academic redshirts can be on scholarship, they can practice (but not play in games) with the team, and they won't lose a year of eligibility if they stay on track academically. After their first year, they'll have 4 years to play 4. It sounds like the NCAA put Lake on this program even though the rules don't kick in officially for another 3 months.

In a discussion in the Lake thread with g$, we talked about the new rule going into effect. This raised the idea in my mind that BYU could take advantage of this and broaden it's recruiting pool since the worry about being a full qualifier goes down. The question is whether BYU administration/coaches will be willing to lower their artificially high standards and start taking partial qualifiers. If they do, our tiny recruiting pool grows substantially.