Which of the Four Major Recruiting Services is the Most Accurate?

By Andrew Lind on July 6, 2017 at 2:15p

When Ohio State landed a commitment from Tennessee running back Master Teague III in mid-June, you couldn't help but notice the wide disparity in his ranking across the four major recruiting networks — ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports.

ESPN and 247Sports both list Teague as a four-star prospect, with the latter considering him the eighth-best running back in the country. Rivals and Scout, meanwhile, have him as a three-star prospect and the 32nd-best running back.

How can so many well-respected recruiting services have such a different opinion on one prospect? Well, as you'll come to find out, it's not all that uncommon. 

Some sites base their rankings on tape or talking with coaches and opponents, while others rank solely on a prospect's performance at their sponsored camps. Since their evaluations are different, they all end up with different rankings.

In Teague's case, those who put more weight into their own camps are less likely to give him a higher rating because he's never attended one.

Regardless of how the rankings are decided, prospects are grouped into five-, four-, three- and two-star ratings. The numbers vary a little bit in terms of the exact numbers of prospect per each ranking, but the number recruits listed in the five-star range is supposed to mirror the 32 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft.

According to 247Sports:

Five-star prospect. One of the best players in the nation. This player has excellent pro-potential and should emerge as one of the best in the country before the end of his career.

Four-star prospect. One of the top 300 players in the nation. This prospect will be an impact-player for his college team. He is an All-American candidate who is projected to play professionally.

Three-star prospect. One of the Top 10 percent of players in the nation. This player will develop into a reliable starter for his college team and is among the best players in his region of the country. Many three-stars have significant pro potential.

Two-star prospect. This player makes up the bulk of Division I rosters. He may have little pro potential, but is likely to become a role player for his respective school.

We've compiled a list of the last five NFL Drafts below, and included each prospect's ranking coming out of high school alongside. Which recruiting service has been the most accurate in predicting future first rounders? Scroll down to find out.

Some final notes: *247Sports didn't exist prior to the 2010 recruiting class; **JUCO prospect; ***Selection forfeited as a result of the Deflategate scandal

2013 NFL DRAFT
Draft spot/team name school position espn rivals scout 247sports
1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ERIC FISHER CENTRAL MICHIGAN OT NR NR NR N/A*
2. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS LUKE JOECKEL TEXAS A&M OT 83 39 131 38
3. MIAMI DOLPHINS DION JORDAN OREGON DE NR NR 155 N/A*
4. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES LANE JOHNSON OKLAHOMA OT NR NR NR N/A*
5. DETROIT LIONS EZEKIEL ANSAH BYU DE NR NR NR N/A*
6. CLEVELAND BROWNS BARKEVIOUS MINGO LSU DE NR 155 138 N/A*
7. ARIZONA CARDINALS JONATHAN COOPER NORTH CAROLINA OG NR NR NR N/A*
8. ST. LOUIS RAMS TAVON AUSTIN WEST VIRGINIA WR NR NR 47 N/A*
9. NEW YORK JETS DEE MILLINER ALABAMA CB 16 23 16 19
10. TENNESSEE TITANS CHANCE WARMACK ALABAMA OG NR NR NR N/A*
11. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS D.J. FLUKER ALABAMA OT 12 3 103 N/A*
12. OAKLAND RAIDERS D.J. HAYDEN HOUSTON CB NR 41 NR NR
13. NEW YORK JET SHELDON RICHARDSON MISSOURI DT 107 4 15 N/A*
14. CAROLINA PANTHERS STAR LOTULELEI UTAH DT NR 45 NR N/A*
15. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS KENNY VACCARO TEXAS S NR NR 174 N/A*
16. BUFFALO BILLS E.J. MANUEL FLORIDA STATE QB 51 43 30 N/A*
17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS JARVIS JONES GEORGIA LB 59 72 72 N/A*
18. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ERIC REID LSU S 71 90 54 81
19. NEW YORK GIANTS JUSTIN PUGH SYRACUSE OT NR NR NR N/A*
20. CHICAGO BEARS KYLE LONG OREGON OG N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
21. CINCINNATI BENGALS TYLER EIFERT NOTRE DAME TE NR NR NR N/A*
22. ATLANTA FALCONS DESMOND TRUFANT WASHINGTON CB NR NR NR N/A*
23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS SHARRIF FLOYD FLORIDA DT 25 4 6 3
24. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS BJOERN WERNER FLORIDA STATE DE NR NR NR NR
25. MINNESOTA VIKINGS XAVIER RHODES FLORIDA STAET CB NR NR NR N/A*
26. GREEN BAY PACKERS DATONE JONES UCLA DE NR 125 240 N/A*
27. HOUSTON TEXAS DEANDRE HOPKINS CLEMSON WR 139 148 150 NR
28. DENVER BRONCOS SYLVESTER WILLIAMS NORTH CAROLINA DT N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
29. MINNESOTA VIKINGS CORDARRELLE PATTERSON TENNESSEE WR N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
30. ST. LOUIS RAMS ALEC OGLETREE GEORGIA LB 29 40 NR 28
31. DALLAS COWBOYS TRAVIS FREDERICK WISCONSIN C NR NR NR N/A
32. BALTIMORE RAVENS MATT ELAM FLORIDA S NR 25 32 15

SCORECARD: RIVALS - 5, SCOUT - 5, ESPN - 4, 247Sports - 4

2014 NFL DRAFT
Draft spot name school position espn rivals scout 247sports
1. HOUSTON TEXANS JADEVEON CLOWNEY SOUTH CAROLINA DE 1 1 1 1
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS GREG ROBINSON AUBURN OT NR 90 133 109
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS BLAKE BORTLES UCF QB NR NR NR NR
4. BUFFALO BILLS SAMMY WATKINS CLEMSON WR 39 15 41 9
5, OAKLAND RAIDERS KHALIL MACK BUFFALO LB NR NR NR NR
6. ATLANTA FALCONS JAKE MATTHEWS TEXAS A&M OT 90 48 27 43
7. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS MIKE EVANS TEXAS A&M WR NR NR NR NR
8. CLEVELAND BROWNS JUSTIN GILBERT OKLAHOMA STATE CB NR NR NR 144
9. MINNESOTA VIKINGS ANTHONY BARR UCLA LB 102 50 100 67
10. DETROIT LIONS ERIC EBRON NORTH CAROLINA TE NR NR NR NR
11. TENNESSEE TITANS TAYLOR LEWAN MICHIGAN OT 148 194 274 N/A*
12. NEW YORK GIANTS ODELL BECKHAM JR. LSU WR NR 43 251 55
13. ST. LOUIS RAMS AARON DONALD PITTSBURGH DT NR NR 228 NR
14. CHICAGO BEARS KYLE FULLER VIRGINIA TECH CB NR NR NR NR
15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS RYAN SHAZIER OHIO STATE LB 81 NR 81 127
16. DALLAS COWBOYS ZACK MARTIN NOTRE DAME OG 109 NR NR N/A*
17. BALTIMORE RAVENS C.J. MOSLEY ALABAMA LB 99 56 183 37
18, NEW YORK JETS CALVIN PRYOR LOUISVILLE S NR NR NR NR
19. MIAMI DOLPHINS JA'WUAN JAMES TENNESSEE OT 24 55 67 12
20. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS BRANDIN COOKS OREGON STATE WR NR 240 NR NR
21. GREEN BAY PACKERS HA HA CLINTON-DIX ALABAMA S 19 7 7 19
22. CLEVELAND BROWNS JOHNNY MANZIEL TEXAS A&M QB NR NR NR 257
23. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS DEE FORD AUBURN DE NR NR 261 N/A*
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS DARQUEZE DENNARD MICHIGAN STATE CB NR NR NR NR
25. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS JASON VERRETT TCU CB N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
26. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES MARCUS SMITH LOUISVILLE LB NR NR NR NR
27. ARIZONA CARDINALS DEONE BUCANNON WASHINGTON STATE S NR NR NR NR
28. CAROLINA PANTHERS KELVIN BENJAMIN FLORIDA STATE WR NR 60 94 90
29. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS DOMINIQUE EASLEY FLORIDA DT 3 7 12 4
30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS JIMMIE WARD NORTHERN ILLINOIS S NR NR NR NR
31. DENVER BRONCOS BRADLEY ROBY OHIO STATE CB NR NR NR NR
32. MINNESOTA VIKINGS TEDDY BRIDGEWATER LOUISVILLE QB 143 113 67 188

SCORECARD: 247Sports - 5, ESPN - 4, RIVALS - 4, SCOUT - 4

2015 NFL DRAFT
Draft spot name school position espn rivals scout 247sports
1. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS JAMEIS WINSTON FLORIDA STATE QB 14 10 41 26
2. TENNESSEE TITANS MARCUS MARIOTA OREGON QB NR NR NR 256
3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS DANTE FOWLER JR.  FLORIDA DE 71 28 59 15
4. OAKLAND RAIDERS AMARI COOPER ALABAMA WR 49 45 86 55
5. WASHINGTON REDSKINS BRANDON SCHERFF IOWA OT NR NR NR NR
6. NEW YORK JETS LEONARD WILLIAMS USC DE 50 53 103 47
7. CHICAGO BEARS KEVIN WHITE WEST VIRGINIA WR N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
8. ATLANTA FALCONS VIC BEASLEY CLEMSON DE NR NR NR NR
9. NEW YORK GIANTS ERECK FLOWERS MIAMI OT NR 205 169 106
10. ST. LOUIS RAMS TODD GURLEY GEORGIA RB NR 42 107 56
11. MINNESOTA VIKINGS TRAE WAYNES MICHIGAN STATE CB NR NR NR NR
12. CLEVELAND BROWNS DANNY SHELTON WASHINGTON DT NR 120 NR NR
13. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS ANDRUS PEAT STANFORD OT 9 32 51 64
14. MIAMI DOLPHINS DEVANTE PARKER LOUISVILLE WR NR NR NR NR
15. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS MELVIN GORDON WISCONSIN RB NR NR NR 54
16. HOUSTON TEXANS KEVIN JOHNSON WAKE FOREST CB NR NR NR NR
17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ARIK ARMSTEAD OREGON DE 24 61 2 4
18. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS MARCUS PETERS WASHINGTON CB NR NR NR NR
19. CLEVELAND BROWNS CAMERON ERVING FLORIDA STATE C NR NR NR NR
20. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NELSON AGHOLOR USC WR 47 18 61 31
21. CINCINNATI BENGALS CEDRIC OGBUEHI TEXAS A&M OT NR 82 124 72
22. PITTSBURGH STEELERS BUD DUPREE KENTUCKY LB NR NR NR NR
23. DENVER BRONCOS SHANE RAY MISSOURI DE NR NR NR NR
24. ARIZONA CARDINALS D.J. HUMPHRIES FLORIDA OT 7 2 11 5
25. CAROLINA PANTHERS SHAQ THOMPSON WASHINGTON LB 16 4 3 6
26. BALTIMORE RAVENS BRESHAD PERRIMAN UCF WR NR NR NR NR
27. DALLAS COWBOYS BYRON JONES UCONN CB NR NR NR NR
28. DETROIT LIONS LAKEN TOMLINSON DUKE OG NR NR NR NR
29. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PHILLIP DORSETT MIAMI WR NR NR NR 284
30. GREEN BAY PACKERS DEMARIOUS RANDALL ARIZONA STATE S N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
31. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS STEPHONE ANTHONY CLEMSON LB 32 24 38 10
32. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS MALCOM BROWN TEXAS DT 12 26 17 7

SCORECARD: RIVALS - 8, 247Sports - 8, ESPN - 6, SCOUT - 4

2016 NFL DRAFT
Draft spot name school position espn rivals scout 247sports
1. LOS ANGELES RAMS JARED GOFF CALIFORNIA QB 267 140 234 266
2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES CARSON WENTZ NORTH DAKOTA STATE QB NR NR NR NR
3. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS JOEY BOSA OHIO STATE DE 56 47 38 53
4. DALLAS COWBOYS EZEKIEL ELLIOTT OHIO STATE RB 109 84 47 70
5. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS JALEN RAMSEY FLORIDA STATE CB 14 10 20 39
6. BALTIMORE RAVENS RONNIE STANLEY NOTRE DAME OT NR 176 66 145
7. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS DEFOREST BUCKNER OREGON DE NR NR 126 NR
8. TENNESSEE TITANS JACK CONKLIN MICHIGAN STATE OT NR NR NR NR
9. CHICAGO BEARS LEONARD FLOYD GEORGIA LB NR 177 142 123
10. NEW YORK GIANTS ELI APPLE OHIO STATE CB 11 89 111 45
11. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS VERNON HARGREAES III FLORIDA CB 3 2 16 4
12. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SHELDON RANKINS LOUISVILLE DT NR NR NR NR
13. MIAMI DOLPHINS LAREMY TUNSIL OLE MISS OT 5 14 7 3
14. OAKLAND RAIDERS KARL JOSEPH WEST VIRGINIA S NR NR NR NR
15. CLEVELAND BROWNS COREY COLEMAN BAYLOR WR NR 232 141 118
16. DETROIT LIONS TAYLOR DECKER OHIO STATE OT NR 221 77 263
17. ATLANTA FALCONS KEANU NEAL FLORIDA S 65 64 205 193
18. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS RYAN KELLY ALABAMA C NR NR 183 205
19. BUFFALO BILLS SHAQ LAWSON CLEMSON DE NR NR NR NR
20. NEW YORK JETS DARRON LEE OHIO STATE LB NR NR NR NR
21. HOUSTON TEXAS WILL FULLER V NOTRE DAME WR NR 176 179 NR
22. WASHINGTON REDSKINS JOSH DOCTSON TCU WR NR NR NR NR
23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS LAQUON TREADWELL OLE MISS WR 19 5 30 28
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS WILLIAM JACKSON III HOUSTON CB NR NR NR NR
25. PITTSBURGH STEELERS ARTIE BURNS MIAMI  CB 70 187 160 52
26. DENVER BRONCOS PAXTON LYNCH MEMPHIS QB NR NR NR NR
27. GREEN BAY PACKERS KENNY CLARK UCLA DT NR NR 187 281
28. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS JOSHUA GARNETT STANFORD OG 44 33 42 67
29. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SELECTION FORFEITED N/A*** N/A*** N/A*** N/A*** N/A*** N/A***
30. ARIZONA CARDINALS ROBERT NKEMDICHE OLE MISS DT 1 1 1 1
31. CAROLINA PANTHERS VERNON BUTLER LOUISIANA TECH DT NR NR NR NR
32. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS GERMAIN IFEDI TEXAS A&M OT NR NR 296 257

SCORECARD: ESPN - 6, RIVALS - 5, SCOUT - 5,  247Sports - 4

2017 NFL DRAFT
Draft spot name school position espn rivals scout 247sports
1. CLEVELAND BROWNS MYLES GARRETT TEXAS A&M DE 4 2 5 1
2. CHICAGO BEARS MITCHELL TRUBINSKY NORTH CAROLINA QB 219 207 NR 79
3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SOLOMON THOMAS STANFORD DE 25 37 20 41
4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS LEONARD FOURNETTE LSU RB 1 4 1 2
5. TENNESSEE TITANS COREY DAVIS WESTERN MICHIGAN WR NR NR NR NR
6. NEW YORK JETS JAMAL ADAMS LSU S 18 38 8 92
7. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS MIKE WILLIAMS CLEMSON WR 201 222 288 239
8. CAROLINA PANTHERS CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY STANFORD RB 218 77 81 91
9. CINCINNATI BENGALS JOHN ROSS WASHINGTON WR NR NR 113 279
10. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PATRICK MAHOMES II TEXAS TECH QB NR NR 273 NR
11. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS MARSHON LATTIMORE OHIO STATE CB 45 134 51 44
12. HOUSTON TEXAS DESHAUN WATSON CLEMSON QB 16 31 84 81
13. ARIZONA CARDINALS HAASON REDDICK TEMPLE LB NR NR NR NR
14. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DEREK BARNETT TENNESSEE DE 298 169 279 152
15. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MALIK HOOKER OHIO STATE S NR NR 258 NR
16. BALTIMORE RAVENS MARLON HUMPHREY ALABAMA CB 15 9 30 10
17. WASHINGTON REDSKINS JONATHAN ALLEN ALABAMA DT 28 11 34 11
18. TENNESSEE TITANS ADOREE' JACKSON USC CB 9 6 6 24
19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS O.J. HOWARD ALABAMA TE 45 16 14 20
20. DENVER BRONCOS GARRETT BOLLES UTAH OT N/A** N/A** N/A** N/A**
21. DETROIT LIONS JARRAD DAVIS FLORIDA LB NR NR NR NR
22. MIAMI DOLPHINS CHARLES HARRIS MISSOURI DE NR NR NR NR
23. NEW YORK GIANTS EVAN ENGRAM OLE MISS TE NR NR NR NR
24. OAKLAND RAIDERS GAREON CONLEY OHIO STATE CB 43 NR 129 147
25. CLEVELAND BROWNS JABRILL PEPPERS MICHIGAN S 2 3 3 4
26. ATLANTA FALCONS TAKKARIST MCKINLEY UCLA LB NR NR NR NR
27. BUFFALO BILLS TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE LSU CB 186 18 58 9
28. DALLAS COWBOYS TACO CHARLTON MICHIGAN DE 116 237 174 108
29. CLEVELAND BROWNS DAVID NJOKU MIAMI TE NR NR NR NR
30. PITTSBURGH STEELERS T.J. WATT WISCONSIN LB NR NR NR NR
31. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS REUBEN FOSTER ALABAMA LB 16 13 2 15
32. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS RYAN RAMCZYK WISCONSIN OT NR NR NR NR

SCORECARD: ESPN - 10, RIVALS - 10, SCOUT - 9, 247Sports - 9

In conclusion, Rivals has predicted the highest number of future first rounders over the last five years with 32. ESPN and 247Sports come in second with 30 total, while Scout brings up the rear with 27.

Join the Conversation