The following five factors were weighed by our experts on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Max total points per team were 25. Within the 1-65 rankings, ties among teams with equal points were broken by a panel vote of RecruitingNation experts:
1. Favorable geography/local recruiting territory.
2. Recruiting/football budget. Sources of data were most current available information, including the data collected HERE and HERE, and original research by ESPN's recruiting reporters and team of scouts.
3. Facilities to attract recruits.
4. Next-level considerations. NFL alumni and identifiable pro prospects who provide evidence to recruits that they can play at the next level.
5. Other intangibles including but not limited to winning tradition, game-day experience and academic considerations. (Example: Schools with a positive tradition to sell to recruits could receive a "5" in this category, schools with academic restrictions that represent a hurdle in recruiting could get a "1." If there were no discernible positive or negative intangibles, panelists were instructed to give a "3" in this category.)
Link38. Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Cornhuskers don't have much local talent and have to go farther than their Big Ten competition for players -- but they spend the money it takes to compete on the trail. That said, Nebraska has signed just one ESPN 300 player since 2010, and current recruits are aware that most of the program's title-winning tradition dates to before they were born.
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