Simply put, Dan needs to get this team to the SECCG to have a chance at edging out UGAly for some recruits. And to get to the top 4 (Bama/Clemson/tOSU/LSU-for now) will require a playoff appearance. The selling point he's missing is being able to SHOW that being a Gator means playing for championships.
The hurdle to all of that is beating UGA to win the East. UGA is a lot better now than they were in the Spurrier or Meyer days, so it's not as easy for Dan's teams to do. But Kirby's teams are beatable, just need to have a defense that can get pressure on the QB and stop them on obvious rushing downs. We took care of business on the rushing downs this year, but not having Greenard and Zuniga killed us on the passing downs, along with not having a secondary that could find the most important receive Georgia had, Cager.
Start winning championships (even SEC), add some off-the-field recruiting staff, and break ground on facilities, and we'll see recruiting step up to the level that we expect.