The state that produces the most highly rated FB players is TX. So almost every SEC school but 1 has to recruit out of state talent. It's also funny that with a massive in state talent advantage, none of the TX schools have been that good in years. 2nd is either FL or CA. We actually compete well with FL, so the talent advanatge of FL obviously isn't helping them much. OH is another talent rich state, and we recruit well there. Still isn't helping all that much.
Just looked at TN, they don't have a single player in the top 100 of 247 rankings, but KY did. How the hell are they so good without the in state talent advantage?
Again, I can go on and on with how that assessment just isn't accurate by looking all around the country at schools that don't have these alleged advantages and still compete at a high level and look competent. It all comes down to coaching. Our sucks and theirs doesn't.
To the NIL stuff, aside from Bama, UGA and a few others around the country, most P5 schools do about the same in Fball. With the roster size in fball, only the star players are going to land impactful deals. The collectives are a way to get the other players a little cash. That isn't a deal maker/breaker for most players, as most aren't star players.