didn't have top 10 recruiting, but still good recruiting/players? I don't know. You've just described 40 other programs. I wouldn't have expected them to continue throwing out top 10 teams with a new coaching staff and not top 10 recruiting. There are programs that don't have top 10 recruits but finish the year in the top 10, like Baylor and TCU. But USC had Lane Kiffin, not Patterson or Briles. And I don't think you are going to find TCU and Baylor consistently in the top 10

But the OP's question was just wrong. They didn't have consistent top 10 recruiting.