Credibility

[romegajacket]

Is there any one website about football recruiting that most fans would consider to be the most reliable? I'm referring to "Team Rankings" mainly. If so, what's your favorite?

 

[instant oatmeal]

rivals is historically the most accurate ranking site (over ESPN, Lemming, and Scout).

rivals DOES have a southern bias and tend to rate southern kids higher than most other services.... this is where they are most inaccurate.


overall, though, rivals is the best of the bunch.

 

[mts315]

I like to think that scout is more accurate.

Mainly because they generally rate us higher.:rolleyes:

 

[Essobee]

I usually add rivals and scout together and divide by two. :p

 

[ContactBuzz]

rivals is historically the most accurate ranking site (over ESPN, Lemming, and Scout).

rivals DOES have a southern bias and tend to rate southern kids higher than most other services.... this is where they are most inaccurate.


overall, though, rivals is the best of the bunch.

Rivals panders to those that are paying the most. Calvin Johnson was reduced from a 5-star to a 4-star shortly after committing to GT. GT fans (for the most part) are Scout members.

Let me just add that I'm sure all do it - I think Rivals is more guilty of it than the others though (it's the reason they overrate the southern players - most of their paying members are fans of SEC schools).

 

[instant oatmeal]

good point contact. rivals IS the most prone to shift rankings later in the year to produce more fan interest and, consequently, more revenue. no doubt about it: rivals is a cash cow.


however, there have been a few articles written that i have seen that compare the rivals/scouts rankings from 5 years ago in relation to the success of the player in the collegiate atmosphere. the results of every test showed that rivals is more correct. i will not argue that they DO alter rankings as the year progresses -- they rank the uncommitted players (and those who have higher profile offers as well) higher.

 

[Essobee]

Rivals panders to those that are paying the most. Calvin Johnson was reduced from a 5-star to a 4-star shortly after committing to GT. GT fans (for the most part) are Scout members.

Yeah. I noticed that Sean Renfree was a four-star on rivals when he committed. Now rivals has reduced him to three-star.

 

[TechGator1066]

Yeah. I noticed that Sean Renfree was a four-star on rivals when he committed. Now rivals has reduced him to three-star.

Yeah I noticed that too.

Getting 4 and 5 star players is always great, but remember that a certain Mr. Wheeler and Tashard Choice were 3 star recruits by rivals and Jamal Lewis was a 2 star!; look where they are now; they are among the best at their positions in the entire country. Take that Rivals!