Kansas University’s football recruiting class grew this weekend when Chaffey College offensive lineman Alan Erving gave KU an oral commitment.

Erving (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) also had offers from Fresno State, Boise State and San Diego State, which he planned to visit this weekend.

“The program is going in the right direction,” Erving told recruiting analyst Jon Kirby of rivals.com. “I don’t know what is in San Diego that could change my mind.”

Erving, who said he would graduate at semester, was KU’s ninth known commitment and fourth offensive lineman.

Even more offensive line help could be on the way. Preston Phillips (6-6, 280) of Tascosa High in Amarillo, Texas, was one of seven campus visitors during the weekend, according to rivals.com.

Phillips was scheduled to make visits Friday to Texas Christian and this weekend to Oklahoma State. He has made unofficial visits to those schools but says Kansas is his leader.

Oral commitments are non-binding, but that’s good news for KU fans in the case of Garland, Texas, linebacker Jammar Crane.

Crane (6-1, 197) had made a commitment to play for Wisconsin, where he was scheduled for a visit Dec. 19, but the Texan indicated the Badgers had catching up to do.

“Kansas is at the top of my list right now,” he told Kirby. “On my next two visits the other schools have to beat out the standards that Kansas has set.”

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Crane was scheduled to visit Colorado State Friday.

Two other uncommitted prospects who visited Lawrence, according to rivals.com, were Lakeland, Fla., linebacker Mozell Axson (6-1, 230) and San Antonio running back/defensive back Gary Green (5-9, 170). Two other players already committed to KU, St. Louis defensive back Raymond Brown (6-2, 191) and Sugar Land, Texas, offensive lineman Ryan Cantrell (6-3, 265), also were on campus.

Kansas had to reschedule some of its campus visits this month because the Jayhawks (6-6) will play North Carolina State (7-5) Dec. 22 in the Tangerine Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

“We’ve had to make some adjustments,” coach Mark Mangino said Monday. “That’s OK. We’ve had to move some visits, and we’ve had to coach on the field, have meetings, prepare for North Carolina State, get out on the road and recruit, host recruits when they come in.

“But you know what? That’s part of being a bowl team. We’re delighted with those problems. We’re glad to have them.”

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Getting focused: Kansas will have 15 extra practices to prepare for its first bowl berth since 1995, and Monday the Jayhawks started preparing for the Tangerine Bowl.

“We spent the first four or five practices on developmental work with a lot of younger players and kids that will be here next season,” said Mangino, whose players started watching N.C. State game films Friday. “Today was actually our first practice of working on North Carolina State.”

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OU deserving: The Bowl Championship Series was criticized after Oklahoma — which was routed Saturday by Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference title game — was picked to play LSU for the national title, while top-ranked Southern Cal was left out.

Mangino, who was an assistant to Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops from 1999-2001, defended the Sooners’ spot in the Sugar Bowl.

“I think they’ve been excellent week after week,” Mangino said. “Just because they lost late shouldn’t exclude them. I think they’re on one of top two teams in nation.”

Mangino, however, wasn’t defending the BCS.

“I have not taken the time to understand all of the elements that come up with the BCS rankings,” he said. “Basically that is because right now our team is not a BCS-type of team. When we get to that point, I will pay really close attention.”

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Freshmen honored: Receiver/defensive back Charles Gordon and free safety Jonathan Lamb were named to The Sporting News Freshman All-American team Monday. Gordon, a native of Santa Monica, Calif., was a first-team selection, while Lamb, who hails from Olathe, earned second-team honors.

Gordon set KU freshman records for single-game receptions (nine, twice), receptions (53) and receiving yards (696). He made 13 tackles after adding cornerback to his responsibilities in the final three games of the regular season and also averaged 13.1 yards per punt return.

Lamb, a walk-on, ranks fifth on the team with 83 tackles and is among the nation’s top freshmen in tackles per game (6.9). He also has two interceptions.