When Jelani Pieters joined the North Carolina men's soccer team three years ago, he realized early on what role immediately awaited him.
The Tar Heels boasted 14 upperclassmen in 2015. They also returned five players who redshirted as freshmen the year before. So as one of 12 players in the team's 2015 recruiting class, Pieters assumed that he'd likely redshirt.
His inkling proved correct.
Many student-athletes dread the idea of redshirting, of finally achieving their dream of continuing their athletic career in college, only to spend their first year watching from the sideline. But Pieters embraced the situation.