Which Michigan Recruiting "Insider Information" is best?

Submitted by Chicken22 on

247, Scout, and Rivals all provide "insider information" about Michigan recruting that you have to pay for. (247 is free until September 3rd) Which is most worth the money?

WolverineInCbus

June 4th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

As far as which has the best content? I would definitely say 247. Rivals has gone to the crapper. Scout is full of "click-bait" they will post title of stories to make it seem really interesting and then the content will be near meaningless. 247 is by far the best in my opinion. The community of posters on 247 is also much more intelligent then the one on scout if I'm being honest.




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umbig11

June 4th, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^

None. It all leaks so fast that it ends up here soon after. However, if you like to read articles and get some other perspectives from posters that is always another feature. If I had to choose, it would be Rivals, Scout, 24/7 in that order.

Magnus

June 4th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^

I disagree on that order (as mentioned lower in the thread), but I'll also reiterate that it doesn't "all" make it here for free. The big news does, but not a lot of tidbits. There are 3+ pay sites dedicated mostly to football recruiting news, and MGoBlog has a site with a lot of football content, but also splitting time with softball, baseball, soccer, Baylor, Muhammad Ali, the 49ers, etc. I realize there are some OT threads on the premium boards, too, but the truth is that the information doesn't all leak to here.

Magnus

June 4th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^

Right. You can get NFL scores by watching ESPN. Or you can pay for the NFL Network. It's fine if you just watch SportsCenter, but you're not getting as much insight, film, etc. as if you have NFL Network.

WolverineInCbus

June 4th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^

Do you subscribe to all three of those? If not, I'm confused as to how you know enough to rank them all. I'm also confused as to how you would still have rivals number 1 after they've been caught literally fabricating multiple stories in the past year to try and generate new subscribers.




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Ghost of Hoke

June 4th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

247 and it's not even close. Steve Lorenz is the man. That's free till September then pay for it. There, here, TTB and MGoFish. You're set for life.




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MGoLifer

June 4th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^

No one is more of an insider than Sam Webb, but I'm not a fan of Scout's layout. 247 looks clean and easy to use, and are def. better than Rivals, which is seriously lagging at this juncture. 

DrMantisToboggan

June 4th, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^

The best "inside info" comes from Scout. There's a lot of filler on Scout as well, stuff that is very tangential to our recruiting interests/realistic recruiting opportunities, so I'm not sure if they are the site with the greatest proportional amount of info. However, nobody is better connected or respected than Sam Webb and he has a really good team. If you hear something from a Michigan guy at Scout you can bank on it, just have to weed through the extra stuff sometimes. 

 

Edit: And we can obviously all agree that reading smoke signals from a distant Chippewa chief would be a more efficient endeavor in getting good information than going to Rivals. 

Magnus

June 4th, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^

I currently have a poll up on my site that asks for people's favorite site. 247 Sports currently has 67% of the vote with Scout and Rivals splitting the other 33%.

247 and Scout are pretty even as far as information goes, but I think Lorenz works 25 hours a day. Rivals has fallen behind, but I think the new guy, Brandon Justice, is a step up from both Tim Sullivan and Brandon Brown already. I don't know how much access he has to the program itself, but he's on the ball when it comes to recruits.

umbig11

June 4th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

And I do agree on Justice. Light years better than Sullivan. Not a fan of Balas either. As for accuracy, I do have to agree with others on Webb and Scout. I like the Rivals format and content as well as coverage of other sports.

It all ends up here so quickly anyway.

Farnn

June 4th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^

I've only subscribed to 247, but Lorenz is fantastic.  Has good info, keeps it real regarding who is actually interested, and makes a concerted effort to interact with subscribers and answer any questions people have.

I used to think similarly to the people who say don't subscribe because it all leaks here anyway, but seeing the work these guys put in, I want to support them.  And as you mention above, there's a bunch of detail that doesn't leak out.

JayMo4

June 4th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^

Scout was a nightmare to cancel. It took me multiple tries and a bill I shouldn't have received before I got rid of them. That was after a decade of being a customer.

I signed up for 24/7 once during a free trial period. It was one quick phone call and done, when the time came.

One man's anecdote, but maybe worth considering if you don't plan to keep your subscription the rest of your life.

Personally, I won't subscribe to any of them again until they get rid of their auto-renewal if you don't call and cancel first policy.

Rawls NTR

June 4th, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^

I had both 247 and Scout/Michigan Insider/Sam Webb during January and February. Although 247 had decent information, Sam Webb's team had more and it was far more reliable. I dont pay for either right now but if i was looking for insider recruiting info nobody has better info than Sam and his Scout staff. This time of year, however, the information isnt really all that relevant since theres so long to go until signing day. Once football season starts its great for insight into the current team as well (who is shining, who is getting the reps, and injury info). Sams radio show has tons of info too.

Magnus

June 4th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^

You could say similar things about any industry that includes teenagers. Hockey leagues, the entertainment industry, tennis, the National Spelling Bee, newspapers interviewing local children about whatever, etc. Is Rolling Stone creepy for interviewing a 16-year-old pop singer? Is Scott Hamilton creepy for interviewing a 16-year-old figure skater from Ukraine? If the answer is yes and you think news about anyone under 18 is out of bounds, then at least you're being consistent, I guess.

If kids don't want to be involved and/or if their parents don't want them to be involved, then they can say no to the interviews and such.

Real Tackles Wear 77

June 4th, 2016 at 3:13 PM ^

Scout is by far the best for insider information, but lags behind 247 in user experience and cool features. Webb has built up more solid sources than anyone else in 20+ years in the industry. Rivals is in its own class of awful (Kalis is gonna be cut anyone? Lol)

Mocha Cub

June 4th, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^

I've been a member of Scout off and on for about 3 years. At the beginning, it was probably better. Sam had more time to post and interact. Since he's become the publisher (I think that's his title now, someone else can correct me if need be) of TMI, he's stretched himself wayyyyy too thin. He barely posts now and it's been tons of filler articles as mentioned above. I wouldn't be surprised if Scout loses a lot of its memberships because a lot of members are already complaining. He went MIA for what seemed like most of a couple of weeks and when he came back, started a thread saying he was back and asked for any and all questions that people had so he could catch them up. I don't think he ever responded to the thread. I don't think he did it intentionally, it's like I said...he has other responsibilities other than his radio show and covering recruiting now. 

I joined 247 about a year and a half ago and they've been far more consistent with their content. I don't think they necessarily give as much in-depth info as the Sam-related content does on Scout. However, 247 has been scooping Scout on a pretty consistent basis over the last 4 or so months.

Rivals? I've never been a member, but their reputation has been pretty much shit over the last year or so. Fabricated stories, only ranking kids that go to Rivals camps. No thank you, I'll pass.

#1 - 247

#2 - Scout

#3 Rivals

Left Out - Ace Williams

Maizen

June 4th, 2016 at 7:21 PM ^

This x100. Sam Webb has far and away the best Michigan sources in the industry and he works his ass off. Unfortunately he is spread too thin and doesn't post with any regularity. The user experience at scout is awful and the boards get slow real quick. I feel bad for Sam because he's a great guy with the best info, but he's only one man and he can only do so much. 

247 has the best website and Lorenz is really doing a great job lately. He has direct sources on the coaching staff I believe. Their national and regional guys also chime in more than any other site, which I think is something that is intentional. The whole operation there works together.

Rivals is complete shit, and I can't believe I'm saying that given their place in the industry not too long ago. Balas bans anyone who dares to be critical or goes against the group think mentality of many of its posters. Sullivan (good riddance) and Brown have no sources. Justice is a 19 year old kid and while I think he is doing a decent job all things considered, just last week he was saying Alabama had a chance to sign CMH. Meanwhile Sam Webb was out there issuing gut feelings and had been hinting for MONTHS that Michigan was in the best shape for him. Even Helmholdt's info isn't what it used to be. They still do occasionally get good bits of info that the other two sites don't and I do like the Inside the Fort feature but I'm always left wondering how much of it is accurate.

Too bad Lorenz and Webb can't join forces.

 

CAwolverine

June 4th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^

Sam Webb is ridiculous at Scout. Nobody is a close 2nd. He gets REAL inside information and recruits trust him. I joined Scout about 1.5 years ago and my only regret is waiting so long to join.

tbeindit

June 4th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^

One thing to add for 247 is that you get the network, which continues to get bigger and better. Not sure Rivals and Scout are heading in the same direction.

Wolfman

June 4th, 2016 at 8:33 PM ^

Just last night received an email from Scout stating, "7 Day Free Trial," Try our website free for seven days. Simply follow link and hit on 7 Day Free Trial."  Well that's pretty simple I thought. At least it's not one of those "Take the money and then IF you aren't satisfied we'll gladly refund your money." Well that's exactly what it was. 

I thought Hell they should know better than that. Duplicity and misleading information never work in promotional strategies. In fact it's pretty much a guarantee that you'll piss people off enough they'll not only give you a silent, "Fuck You," which I'm certain I was not alone in doing, but it assures they'll never bother to hit a link from your site again. 

However, now that I look at all the good words about 247 which I use to look at like the Florida teams, "Johnnys come lately," thinking there was simply no room for another pay for site. They've proven me wrong apparently. The news about Rivals is only fitting. They got too big and could not handle it. Their arrogance, I knew quite some time ago, was going to be their downfall. Couldn't happen to a more deserving group of peckerheads, in my opinion. 

WolverineJet

June 4th, 2016 at 4:36 PM ^

Believe me after being able to sit down with Sam the stuff he knows is wayyyyyyyy better than you will ever realize. He has so much that he can't let go and the things he does pretty much is first hand from the program and not many people have it. Nobody is as well connected as him.




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Henry Arulingverder

June 5th, 2016 at 3:08 AM ^

Sam Webb seems like the kind of guy who is always in a good mood. Positive vibes with him. Seems like recruits gravitate toward that - his gut feelings are typically very spot on consistently