Excellent point, and often the best sellers will gravitate over time to the best products. I would argue that it's both "product" and sellers in NU's case.It sure is. And a great salesman with a great product will out sell a great salesman with an inferior product every time.
Until we improve our product we will be out sold.
Zero doubt the product is not as good as what you're selling at Clemson, Bama, Georgia, OSU.
I also think the selling has not been as good as it could be, most glaringly at the QB and OLB positions. Arguably the star of each side of the ball, your passer and your pass rusher.
NU has QBs on the roster who have been "back-in 4 star" signees.
Martinez was a 4* with baggage, he hadn't played his senior year due to injury.
Smothers was virtually unheard of when he committed to NU, he eventually rose to a 4* rating but was never an Elite 11 type kid.
Vedral was a 3* kid who signed with his dad's buddy and then followed him to NU. We've seen that he's not an elite QB.
McCaffrey was a 4* athlete but by no means a 4* QB/passer. You'll never convince me he is rated like he is without his brother being who he is.
Haarberg was a 3*.
None of them were ever consensus, elite recruits coming into and throughout their senior seasons. I'm not aware that any of the guys NU is in on for 2022 is that way either. Any staff that thinks they're consistently seeing something nobody else has seen or knows the hidden secret of talent evaluation, I call BS.