They're actually media personnel and many are plugged in with sources. Not all of them, but there are many (someone like Wiltfong) that actually know where a player is going most often before it is announced. They're not random people on message boards throwing shyt out there with no rhyme or reason.
It is been said a lot this cycle that Bama is not only slow with commitments, but they aren't in on all these 5*s like normal. Been said plenty of times now. Things can change, just that right now it's not a "Bama will finish first like usual" type of year.