Rivals launches paid scouting evaluations for high school athletes

Rivals, a college football recruiting platform owned by On3, has launched ‘Rivals Recruits,’ a new program that allows high school athletes to pay for scouting evaluations. The service, priced at approximately $499 (currently offered at a discounted rate of $399.99), provides athletes with a written scouting report, an evaluation grade, and consideration for the site’s recruiting rankings.

On3 founder Shannon Terry stated the program aims to bridge a capacity gap, noting that while over one million boys played high school football last season, only about 6,600 held a Rivals star rating. Terry argued the service allows scouts to review more film from players at the FCS, D-II, NAIA, and D-III levels who might otherwise be overlooked.

However, the move has drawn skepticism from college football general managers and critics. Concerns have been raised regarding fairness, as families with more financial resources can pay to ensure their athletes are evaluated, whereas others must rely on traditional scouting methods. Rivals has clarified in its FAQ that while athletes can purchase access to the evaluation process, payment does not guarantee a specific rating, ranking, or star designation.