Like yeah there were always bagmen, but nowhere near the dollar amounts seen now (it was only back in 2010 that 180k was mentioned in conjunction with Cam Newton's recruitment, VT reportedly had multiple players eclipsing that last year). Any recruiting-specific skillset that a coach has, whether it's Pry or any other coach for that matter, is rapidly becoming vestigial. By 2030, the value of recruiting skills and salesmanship may go completely to 0, replaced entirely by the front office's skill in identifying high player value (skill : price ratio, scheme fit, etc.). So, when Pry was initially evaluated as a hire, they looked at his various pluses and minuses, but if any of his pluses at the time were considered to be recruiting, sales pitch, in 2025 and beyond, it's no longer all that useful.