I am glad that KF does not do this, he makes a committment to a kid for 4-5 years. But, if you are Saban, you have to do this. You are making the big bucks and have fans that expect you to win. This is also how they get their big recruiting classes year after year and get top running backs and receivers, etc. He can go into a living room and tell a guy, "Hey if you come here we will cut whoever is in front of you because you are the next great back in the country and you will have the position" Problem is that guy forgets that conversation and then is looking around in 2 years when the next stud comes in and he is out of a scholarship.
The kids that leave the program love Ferentz and speak highly of him. I have heard very few of football alumni from Alabama or Michigan State speak as highly of Saban as they do Ferentz. It is about winning but it is also about relationships you build with people, and KF is able to do both.