We can add Wisconsin, Minnesota, N and S Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Missouri and they still don't have the number of D1 prospects that are in UT's area. (To make if fair we should add the DMV and Virginia's to UT's area, but let's not.)
In August, on one medium (TicToc) Nebraska ranked #18 in followers and interactions. That's great for one program out of 130. Tennessee ranked sixth.
Better branding for Tennessee is yet another advantage demonstrated there. IF I were to look at TWTR and FB I'm sure to see the same result.
Let's take this one step further and look at what Nebraska's issues have been.
Since they hired Callahan to take their offense "into this century" their recruiting emphasis has changed: it's skill position players. It's not unlike what we're seeing at USC right now but their talent isn't on the same level as what Riley has attracted. What's missing is the same with both programs: who do they have, and have they had, in the trenches?
It's a little ironic to see similarities between UT and Heupel and Nebraska and Callahan. Both schools going with hopes of high powered offenses and have left the defense to fend for itself. (Remember hearing "Black Shirts" a lot during Callahan's last days? That's what led to Pelini.) UT going defense to offense, Nebraska ran from offense to defense.
That's all fine and dandy, but Nebraska is recruiting by itself in the middle of the country. Tennessee is in a hot bed of recruiting in the South, but also packed with other top flight programs. Tennessee may have that advantage, but the likes of their competition is superior to Nebraska's. Nebraska still has allure as well. After all, they got Texas' transfer quarterback that could still probably start for the Longhorns. The entire point of my comments was who had the easier path to relevance again, and that is still Nebraska.
Tennessee isn't beating out Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, or Notre Dame for many recruits at all. Tennessee would have to battle Ole Miss, Florida, Miami, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Penn State for most of their recruits. Tennessee likely beats out South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and schools alike for recruits. Can we say the same for Nebraska? They are getting kids from Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, California, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Go look at their roster, and they are recruiting the entire country as well. Similar talent. I went back and checked out their team recruiting rankings and both teams are right there for the most part. Tennessee does recruit a little better and it has always amazed me at the talent they can pull with a couple of recruits, but as a whole they are relatively similar.
Nebraska can compete in the Big 10. Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Northwestern, and Wisconsin are their division.
Tennessee's division? Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Vanderbilt.
I personally see it tougher for Tennessee, as they get Alabama, Georgia, Florida every single year. Also, if Iowa State and Iowa can see success, so can Nebraska.