Frequently asked questions.

PrepRanks uses a unique 5-component algorithm that goes beyond simple star ratings: (1) Weighted Service Average (0-50 pts) - combines ON3 (35%), 247Sports (30%), Rivals (20%), and ESPN (15%); (2) Rank Momentum (0-25 pts) - rewards recruits rising in rankings; (3) Position Scarcity (0-15 pts) - rare positions get higher scores; (4) Cross-Service Stability (0-10 pts) - rewards consensus among services; (5) Elite Recognition (0-10 pts) - bonus for Top 10, Top 25, Top 50, and Top 100 national recruits. These components combine into a final 0-100 composite score. See our Methodology page for the complete algorithm breakdown.

Because elite kickers are incredibly rare. Our position scarcity component (worth up to 15 points) recognizes that finding one of 12 elite kickers in a class is harder than finding one of 499 wide receivers. Add positive momentum (rising rankings) and a 3-star specialist can absolutely outscore a stable 5-star skill player.

Rankings are updated weekly, typically within 24-48 hours of service updates. Major recruiting events (National Signing Day, All-American games) trigger more frequent updates. Check recruit profiles for "Last Updated" timestamps.

Rank momentum tracks how a recruit's ranking is changing over time. If a player jumped from #300 to #200 in recent months, that signals breakout performance worth up to +25 points. Updated weekly to capture the latest trends.

Traditional star ratings only measure current talent evaluation. PrepRanks adds four critical factors: (1) Momentum - are they rising or falling? (2) Position scarcity - how rare is this position? (3) Service consensus - do all services agree? (4) Elite recognition - are they a top national recruit?

We normalize weights for available rankings. If ESPN hasn't ranked a recruit, the other three services split 100% of the weight proportionally (ON3: 41%, 247: 35%, Rivals: 24%). Our stability component caps at 8pts with only 3 services, and momentum defaults to 15pts when no rank change data exists.

Our flagship metric (0-100 points) that combines five factors: Weighted Service Average (50 pts max), Rank Momentum (25 pts), Position Scarcity (15 pts), Cross-Service Stability (10 pts), and Elite Recognition (10 pts).

MVI quantifies recruit "heat" based on offers (30%), prediction activity (25%), competition level (20%), geographic reach (15%), and NIL potential (10%). Scores range 0-100. Elite recruits typically score 80+.

Historical validation shows ~75% accuracy for high-risk recruits (70+ score) and ~85% accuracy for low-risk recruits (<40 score). Factors include top prediction mismatch (40%), competition level (30%), and commitment recency (30%).

Our algorithms are fully transparent — we show exactly how each score is calculated on every recruit page. The 5-component breakdown lets you see which factors drive each score. No black boxes.

Scores require minimum data thresholds. MVI needs offer/prediction data. Risk Score requires commitment status. If a recruit lacks sufficient data, scores won't appear until information is available.

Football-specific metrics that capture recruiting dynamics unique to the sport: Size Premium Index, Two-Way Impact Score, QB Premium Index, OL Shortage Multiplier, Early Enrollment Advantage, Speed Position Proxy, Power Five Regional Advantage, and Positional Athleticism Transfer.

Basketball-specific metrics for both men's and women's recruiting: Height Advantage Index, Physical Profile Score, Age Advantage Index, Position Versatility Score, One-and-Done Probability, Guard Skills Premium, Big Man Scarcity Premium, and International Prospect Flag.

Yes. 100% free, forever. No subscriptions, paywalls, or premium tiers. We believe recruiting information should be accessible to everyone — athletes, families, coaches, and fans.

Use the search bar in the main navigation or visit the Recruits page to filter by class year, position, state, star rating, commitment status, and more.

Not yet, but it's on our roadmap. For now, open recruit profiles in separate tabs to compare side-by-side.

Use the state filter on the Recruits page or visit your high school's profile page to see all ranked recruits.

Currently no. Data export features may be added in the future based on user demand.

Currently: high school football (classes 2026, 2027, 2028) and basketball. Baseball is planned.

Class of 2025 has mostly signed. We focus on active recruiting classes where rankings change frequently and our analytics add the most value.

It's on our roadmap. Transfer portal rankings would use similar composite methodology with adjusted weighting.

PrepRanks aggregates data from major services — we don't scout athletes independently. If a recruit isn't ranked by ON3, 247Sports, Rivals, or ESPN, they won't appear here.

We use dynamic rendering with global edge caching on Vercel. No database queries on cached requests — just instant page loads.

Not yet. Our mobile-optimized website works great on all devices and can be added to your home screen as a web app.

Not currently, but we're open to partnerships. Contact us to discuss use cases.

We appreciate corrections. Contact us with recruit name, issue description, and correct information.