Reel Analytics played a key role in building our championship roster at Jackson State and will do the same for us at Colorado. Their in-game athleticism score is a foundational piece of our talent evaluation process.
Month: November 2022
Tyler Olker
Our prospects are evaluated on position-specific traits based primarily on Reel Analytics’ verified in-game athleticism data. Our search for verified prospect information has been simplified by Reel Analytics
RA Scoring Models For The Win!
Reel Analytics’ studies show that past performance can be a strong indicator of future success at the highest level of the sport
Leveraging the power of computer vision technology, RA found that the requisite traits found in NFL players can be identified as early as high school. Computer vision technology enables evaluators to analyze the high school tracking data of successful players from the past to detect the trait(s) that made him ‘special’. This type of retrospective analysis allows college coaches to establish position-specific performance thresholds used to evaluate high school prospects, and to serve as early indicators of future success. For NFL coaches and personnel executives, high school tracking data, among many things, provides deeper insights into the progression of a draft prospect’s raw and functional athleticism.
Reel Analytics’ evaluation methodology consists of two main factors: an In-Game Athleticism Score (IGA Score) and a Production Score (PROD Score), which are both used to determine the RA Score that serves as the final overall player grade. Reel Analytics’ IGA Score derives from objective evaluative metrics extracted by their AI-powered tracking technology, and Reel Analytics’ PROD Score derives from objective advanced performance metrics.
The findings from Reel Analytics’ retrospective study of nearly 500 players from 2011 to 2020 show that RA’s scoring models’ overall projection accuracy is 75.5%, a hit-rate that is 3X higher than college football’s average, and more than 2X vs.the NFL average.”
‘Reel’ Freak Athletes
Discover the top 1% of propsects with elite in-game athleticism
An athlete with rare traits (innate athletic ability, functional speed, functional strength, raw power, instincts and functional size) can be defined as a ‘freak athlete’. These high-ceiling, potentially high-impact athletes, can offer teams a significant matchup advantage that contribute to wins if the talent is developed. Freak athletes aren’t always best players or major contributors on a team, in part because traditional athletic metrics (40-yard dash, short-shuttle, 3-cone, standing broad jump, vertical jump, etc.) aren’t measured in a game environment.
By measuring the raw functional athleticism of successful NFL players in a game environment, Reel Analytics has redefined the traits found in ‘freak athletes’. As a result of this data, our clients have access to our exclusive Reel Freak List, which features the top 1% of prospects with elite in-game athleticism. Here are the athletes who made the list in 2023.
Quantifying What Coaches See On Tape
Balancing the art and science of player evaluation for improved hit-rates
Football coaches have a saying that is indicative of their evaluation philosophy, “the eye in the sky don’t lie”. Most NFL coaches will tell you that player evaluation is 90% what’s seen on film, and 10% combine measurables and interviews. Technological advancements powering tracking data has allowed coaches to quantify the critical factors (athletic ability, functional speed, functional strength, and instincts) they look for when they turn on the tape. Armed with our tracking data, coaches can augment thier film evaluations with our veried in-game athhletcism data.
In most cases (with the exception of the bench press test), our tracking data can measure the same critical factors of athleticism as traditional combine testing. However, our tracking data has a few clear and distinct advantages over combine testing when measuring athleticism:
- Tracking data measures athleticism in a live environment (e.g. during games) and/or in a semi-live environment (e.g. during practices), making it easier for evaluators to project talent to the next level.
- Tracking data measures positionspecific athleticism in the context of executing position-required movements repeatedly during a game or practice.
- Tracking data can be customized to track and measure a specific athletic trait deemed important by a coach or scout.
- Tracking data can provide trending analysis useful to quantify the impact of age or injury on athletic performance.
The Physics Behind The Measurements
Linking tracking data to the fundamental aspects of position, time, velocity and acceleration in the context of physics and mathematics
Our player tracking approach is designed to extract player positioning vs. time data, which then allows the calculation of traditional and emerging player metrics. Athleticism is often defined in terms of speed, explosiveness, burst, and acceleration, with various metrics and various units commonly used. These metrics date to the early 1900’s with the introduction of the Sargent Jump Test, a vertical jump test put forth by Dr. Dudley Sargent. However, more than 100 years later, critical gaps remain in the accuracy and applicability of metrics used to measure athleticism in the context of football.
Download our white paper for more information on the physics behind the measurements and our approach to modern-day athletic measurement.
Media Inquiries
Leverage our digital assets to active fan engagement and expand audience reach…
Expand audience reach & activate fan engagement via our digital assets.
- Provide unique insights to build fan connections to athletes.
- Create digitized data for an interactive experience.
- Leverage the advocacy power of athletes to carry the message directly to “fans”.
Investor Relations
Founded in 2019, Reel Analytics quickly emerged as one of the Top 100 Most Fundable Companies by Pepperdine University’s Graziaio Business School in 2022.
Investor relations landing page copy: “Reel Analytics (formerly Recruiting Analytics) is a sports technology and data company that analyzes video to measure in-game athleticism so coaches can evaluate players more accurately. A Panoramic Ventures portfolio company, Reel Analytics has been shortlisted by Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School as one of the Top 100 Most Fundable Companies. Reel Analytics is reinventing how the sports industry identifies and evaluates talent in order to achieve a 99.9% hit-rate by 2050. Deion Sanders, Hall of Fame cornerback and head coach at Colorado University, as well as former quarterback and head coach at University of Alabama Birmingham, use Reel Analytics to evaluate prospects and players on their roster. Patent-pending AI-powered technology from Reel Analytics unlocks previously unavailable athleticism data from game film to produce objective player evaluations and projections. As a result, Reel Analytics has emerged as a trusted authority in the player evaluation space by NFL scouts, NFL agents and nationally ranked college football programs like the University of Georgia, University of Michigan, and Texas Christian University. Reel Analytics’ athleticism data and digital assets have also been referenced by ESPN, Sporting News, and USA Today.”
See our 2023 newsletter
RA Careers
Reel Analytics announces player personnel internship program for aspiring scouts, coaches, and executives
Reel Analytics Announces Player Personnel Internship Program for Aspiring NFL or NCAA Football Scouts, Coaches, and Executives
Reel Analytics is taking their commitment to advance the science of measuring athletic ability to the next level with the announcement of a new Personnel Internship Program. Led by Reel Analytics’ Co-Founders Cory Yates and Alfonzo Thurman, the internship is designed to provide a foundation for Player Personnel careers in the roles of player evaluation, projections, analytics.
Internship program participants will have the opportunity to contribute to the success of college football teams while receiving an unmatched, behind-the-scenes learning experience. Interns will be able to explore several aspects of the business of college football recruiting through challenging project assignments, presentations, mentoring relationships, and networking opportunities. The program covers a minimum of 12 weeks, commencing with the agreed upon start date. Interns will be required to work three (3) days (approximately 10-15 hours) per week. This is an unpaid opportunity, but participants can get college credit for participating. Relocation & travel is not required, as interns will be working remotely. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.7 or higher to be considered, and interested individuals can apply by sending their resume to support@reel-analytics.net.
Description
Job Title: Player Personnel Data Science Intern
Department: Analytics
Reports To: Co-Founder & CEO
Status: Part-time, Non-Paid Internship
Primary Objective: Working at Reel Analytics you will be fully immersed in our analytics department, and given the resources to learn, grow, and develop over the course of the internship. You will be using Reels Analytics’ proprietary software tools to analyze and evaluate high school football and transfer portal prospects, providing vital performance data to analysts, recruiters and coaches.
Essential Functions:
- Provide support in all areas of player evaluation, including, but not limited to, regression analysis, data labeling, data visualization and administrative tasks
- Collaborate with IT department to enhance, organize, and/or develop tools to support player evaluation processes
- Help with player evaluations through different research methods, backed with evidence through data and statistical analysis
- Support other departments as needed, such as Social Media Marketing
- Provide additional statistical and video analysis, advanced scouting reports, and administrative reports if needed
- Take initiative and bring creative ideas to help improve the organization
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred
- Knowledge of SQL language, statistical modeling, or ML algorithms in R or Python
- Background in player evaluation is a plus; but not required
- Background in computer vision related technology is a plus; but not required
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):
- Working knowledge of statistical football data and its application(s)
- Working knowledge of football positions, strategy and current in-game management trends
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint
- Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to work in a fast-paced environmentv
- Self-motivated with a high degree of integrity; takes personal responsibility for getting things done in a way that positively and professionally represents the organization
- Demonstrated initiative; thinks creatively and takes actions that create a positive outcome for the team
Technology That Wins
The how and the why to gaining a competitive advantage using tracking data from computer vision for objective talent evaluation and advanced scouting. The how and the why to gaining a competitive advantage using tracking data from computer vision for objective talent evaluation and advanced scouting. The how and the why to gaining a competitive advantage using tracking data from computer vision for objective talent evaluation and advanced scouting.
The how and the why to gaining a competitive advantage using tracking data from computer vision for objective talent evaluation and advanced scouting