College football GMs warn against paying for Rivals evaluation: ‘They’re just trying to make money’
The college football recruiting site Rivals has rolled out a new program that allows high school athletes to pay hundreds of dollars “to get evaluated by a Rivals Scout.” Rivals claims the program will “create more opportunities” for high school athletes hoping to reach the next level, but college football general managers seem skeptical. This…
High school football athletes in the United States now have the option to pay for an evaluation by Rivals Scouts through a new program called Rivals Recruits, according to the recruiting site's announcement. The service comes at a price of $499, though there is currently a 20% discount making it $399. The program promises to provide scouting reports, evaluation grades, and ranking consideration for those who opt to pay, potentially increasing exposure for athletes who might not have otherwise been noticed.
Shannon Terry, president of On3, the company that acquired Rivals, defended the program, explaining that it aims to "put the same scouts, held to the same standards, on more of that film." Terry argues that there are simply not enough slots available for all high school football players, so the only way to stand out is to pay for evaluation.
However, the initiative has raised skepticism among college football general managers. Three unnamed college football general managers, speaking anonymously to recruiting analyst Matt Freeman, expressed their reservations about such a program. One GM stated that exposure for players has never been easier, pointing to summer camps, combines, unofficial visits, and online film distribution as viable alternatives.
Another GM dismissed the program as a "cash grab," claiming that it does not expand opportunities for players but only ranks players who have already paid for the evaluation.
A third GM, from a Group of 5 program, expressed strong disapproval of the initiative, stating that "anybody who’s paying for these rankings or evaluations is already in the wrong." The GM emphasized that the focus should be on being a great high school football player, as rankings do not change performance on the field. All three GMs reiterated that "ratings, rankings, and stars are earned, never bought," contradicting Terry's claim that paying for the evaluation guarantees a favorable rating or ranking.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
