Unlike the often-debated Bowl Championship Series computer rankings, the football team rankings for the 2005 recruiting classes are nothing to get hot and bothered about.

Kansas University’s class was ranked 48th overall and 10th in the Big 12 Conference by rivals.com after being unveiled Wednesday. When all is said and done, the rankings still are just the result of a computer shuffling schools based on size of class and individual ratings of recruits, among other smaller details.

The rankings can’t take into account, though, how well needs were filled.

“You’re never comparing apples and apples,” said Jon Kirby of rivals. “There can be a class like Kansas, who focuses on offensive and defensive linemen while another school focuses on cornerbacks and receivers. How do you compare those two classes when they went after different things?”

That, Kirby said, is why KU had a good showing this recruiting season, despite the so-so rankings. With both of the Jayhawks’ lines battling depth issues, dedicating a large chunk of its available scholarships to the trenches was the priority of the coaching staff — and it was accomplished.

“I was pretty surprised they were able to get the quality of D-linemen they did,” Kirby said. “It’s hard to recruit those type of numbers and convince them all there’s a spot for them.”

KU signed eight defensive linemen and four more offensive linemen, taking up 12 of the 25 scholarships passed out to this point. KU coach Mark Mangino was pleased with touching almost every other position with the remaining 13 scholarships, but still stressed the need for KU to bring in help at cornerback — Theo Baines, Ronnie Amadi and Donnie Amadi all are going to be seniors in 2005.

“We always hold a scholarship or two to make sure that if we run into something in the winter or spring, we have a scholarship,” Mangino said.

The 2005 class, then, technically might not be done, but KU’s spot in rivals’ rankings isn’t likely to change much.

So what do the rankings mean?

Well, until the day comes when games are played on paper, not too much.

KU’s 2004 class was ranked 51st overall and 11th in the Big 12. But it already has been productive with Baines, Jermial Ashley, Todd Haselhorst, Charlton Keith and Rodney Harris all providing immediate help on a staunch defense.

The 2003 class, meanwhile, was ranked 39th nationally and seventh in the conference, led by two high-profile recruits in Gabriel Toomey and Monroe Weekley. While Toomey had two solid years as one of KU’s top linebackers before calling it quits after last season, Weekley had off-field issues and left the program before the 2003 Tangerine Bowl.

In other words, the 2005 rankings are in, but the jury still has a long time to deliberate before coming up with a verdict. Potentially, though, it could be a better grade in the long run.

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“If you look at this class, they’re definitely getting better athletes,” Kirby said. “They’re now bumping up against bigger schools from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 … they’re at the same level as the programs they’re facing on the field.”