(Stats Perform) - The high school seniors who are committing to college football programs know they have a better chance of contributing in games this fall than they would have had in most past years.

Many student-athletes will finalize national letters of intent with their respective college of choice beginning Wednesday, joining those who ended the recruiting process during a three-day signing period in December - the third year for earlier commitments.

But the NCAA's four-game redshirt rule that also enters its third year is even more player-friendly, and college team-friendly, for that matter.