Kansas University’s football team landed its ninth recruit for the class of 2006, and No. 9 may be the best one yet.

Donte Bean, one of the highest-rated all-purpose running backs in the country, gave his oral commitment to the Jayhawks on Monday, according to Jon Kirby of rivals.com.

“I looked at a lot of articles, and I think Kansas is a top program on the rise,” Bean told rivals. “Committing to Kansas feels like a monkey off my back. Now I don’t have to worry about recruiting and what may be next. It feels good.”

Bean hails from Garland, Texas, the same city as Jayhawks Raimond Pendleton, James McClinton and Brandon Duncan. Bean chose KU after receiving offers from KU, Purdue and Texas-El Paso. Colorado State and Utah expressed interest.

A 5-foot-9, 180-pound back, Bean is ranked by rivals as one of the top 80 recruits for 2006 out of talent-rich Texas. Bean also is a standout baseball player for Garland North and has said he’d be interested in possibly pursuing baseball at the next level as well.

KU’s commitments:

Donte Bean, 5-9, 180, RB, Garland (Texas) North

Sal Capra, 6-3, 235, LB, Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst

Jamal Greene, 6-4, 255, DE, Kansas City Washington

Tyler Lawrence, 6-2, 195, QB, Shawnee Mission West

Dakota Lewis, 6-0, 190, LB, Sulpher, Okla.

Xavier Rambo, 6-1, 190, WR, Dallas

Todd Reesing, 6-0, 180, QB, Lake Travis, Texas

Jake Sharp, 5-10, 175, RB, Salina Central

Anthony Webb, 6-1, 190, DB, Dallas