"Because recruiting rankings are harder to find - and, indeed, fewer recruiting services actually existed - there remains confusion, in my view, over the work of Tom Osborne. A myth, I suppose, that he collected ham-and-eggers for most of his long, illustrious career, kids with five hearts but only two stars. And Nebraskans! Almost solely Nebraskans!
Osborne won 250+ games, in other words, with the Hickory Huskers.
He did indeed collect his share of Nebraska kids, and built his offensive and defensive lines with guys like the Zatechkas, the Wiegerts, the Noonans, Terry Conneally, John Parrella, Erik Anderson, Frd Pollack, Dean Steinkuhler. Because of higher scholarship limits, he also had more to collect. There was better talent in Omaha and Lincoln, too, to recruit.
But Osborne and his crew did more than that."
http://www.huskerlocker.com/blogs/view/bid/2575/i/recruiting_the_osborne_record/o/0