There is no such thing as a redshirt in the eyes of the NCAA. It's a media term only....
Saban decides if a player plays in enough games that it counts toward a players 4 years of eligibility which isn't something I'm arguing. My point again, it won't really matter if it counts to his eligibility if the player doesn't stay for 5 years... which Saban doesn't control. With this particular player, I wouldn't expect him to be on the team for 5 years if there isn't an injury... He'll either go to the NFL after 3 or 4 years or he'll transfer for playing time if he's not the starter.