Hi all:
   I have read about the results of broken promises but was wondering what some of you would do if you had promised a guy to be a starter but wanted to redshirt him?  I don't really want him to start and don't need him this year much if at all so is their a difference between redshirting him and playing him limited minutes (is one better than the other?)  Also, should I just have not done that and taken another walk-on?  Thanks for the advice all that are willing to respond.

regarding your first part - if you redshirt him or if you start him some games but not enough to meet his "minimum" you will hear about it, his WE will drop and he will most likely transfer. Your reputation will also take a hit. To avoid that, you must start him between 70-90% (seems to vary by kid).

As to whether you should have taken walkon instead, if you plan to break the promise and the kid transfers, then yes, as this way will hurt rep a bit while taking a walkon wouldn't. If you can suck it up and meet the promise and the kid develops into something (you had to have recruited him for some reason, right?) then you are better with the player.