People overstated the "clique" stuff with the Northwestern guys. The problem with them wasn't that they were a clique. The problem was that due to their status in recruiting, they were visible and essentially were pseudo-leaders when they stepped on campus. By the time they were Juniors, there were freshmen looking at them as leaders, and they wasn't doing nothing that showed leadership. Ben Jones and Marcus Forston were fat and out of shape. Aldarius Johnson didn't give a **** about football. Jacory was more interested in being a comedian and the others didn't/hadn't panned out.
The difference with the most recent infusion of talent, that is "clique'd" up. is that they are NOTORIOUS for their work ethic, and for being outstanding leaders. Bush, Tracy, Malcolm, Duke, Herb, and the like, are all guys who all have one focus, which is to become better football players. I'm almost positive that without them even saying much, it rubs off on other players. Guys gotta know that doing what Bush and Duke did as freshmen wasn't no accident. Them dudes put the time in and reap the rewards. There's no better portrait of what Al Golden is preaching to these guys than that clique and when their years as upperclassmen come, the young guys will follow that.