You'll note that Alabama (T55 academically among P5s) consistently outrecruits Duke (#2 academically among P5s). So it might be a tiny factor, but it's pretty much never going to be the defining factor.
I was more just pushing back on the discussion of us as a "top academic institution", but I do agree with your overall point. And we're certainly "good enough" that it's not preventing recruits from wanting to come here.