The first step that football recruiting rankings sites take is awarding star ratings to players. They are rated at either two stars, three stars, four stars or five stars. For unknown reasons, no one-star ratings are revealed. Each of the football recruiting rankings news sites have their own formulas and opinions that are used when disseminating these star rankings, but the general idea behind how they are done is similar for all. With that said, many view that the most useful and informative are the composite rankings that 247 sports put out.
A five-star prospect is deemed to be amongst the top 30 players nationally, ones that are expected to immediately contribute as freshmen regardless of where they sign. That puts them in the top 0.01% of that recruiting class. They are also deemed to have the potential to post some incredible college football stats, be named first team All-American and ultimately be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft after their college careers have ended.
Four-star prospects comprise the rest of the top 300 or so players nationally. They are also expected to provide an immediate impact on their college teams and have potential for All-American status and professional careers, just not quite as likely as is expected to be the case for five-star prospects.
Those who have been rated at three stars by football recruiting rankings websites are generally viewed as expecting to be in the top 10% of incoming college players and are generally thought of being in the nation’s top 800 or so recruits. They are viewed as having the potential to be one of the best players in their region or in their conference. Pro potential is there as well.
Two-star players may not have much of an impact on top college rosters, but by even being on FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) or FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) squads, they have proven themselves to be in the top 1% of high school players. Also, these players do sometimes surprise and become impact players at those schools. They also have more potential to be quality fits for FCS schools as well as the potential to be star players at NCAA Division II or III colleges or at NAIA schools.
Story By: NSCA
