Kansas University’s football team is in dire need of a quarterback.
Zach Dyer might be the answer.
Dyer was KU’s starting quarterback in the season opener at Iowa State, but he was benched in favor of junior Bill Whittemore in the second half of a 45-3 loss in Ames, Iowa. After Whittemore emerged as one of the Big 12 Conference’s top offensive weapons, Dyer moved to safety in the seventh game of the season in an effort to bolster the Jayhawks’ struggling defense.
Dyer ranks sixth among KU’s tackling leaders with 48, despite playing defense for only the past five games and special teams the past six.
The junior, however, might be forced to move back to quarterback for Saturday’s season finale against Oklahoma State because of injuries to Whittemore and backup Jonas Weatherbie.
“We’re hoping Bill will feel well enough to do it, but there’s no guarantee,” said KU coach Mark Mangino, whose Jayhawks (2-9, 0-6 Big 12) play host to OSU (4-5, 2-3) at 1 p.m. “If Bill can’t go, we’ll probably go with Brian Luke and bring Zach Dyer over because we have to have at least two legitimate quarterbacks going into a game.”
Whittemore damaged the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the third quarter of KU’s loss at Missouri and has not played in the two games since. KU has scored only seven points in the nine quarters Whittemore has been sidelined.
Those seven points came on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Weatherbie to Byron Gasaway – KU’s longest pass play of the season – in Saturday’s 45-7 loss at Nebraska.
Weatherbie struggled at MU and in a home loss to Kansas State, but was off to a solid start against the Huskers before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee late in the first quarter. That injury ended the fifth-year senior’s season and career.
It also left KU with only one quarterback, Luke. The red-shirt freshman has had limited practice time because he suffered a broken thumb during the preseason and had his passing hand in a cast for more than a month.
Luke’s return provided depth at quarterback, allowing Dyer to move to defense for the Oct. 12 game against Colorado. That depth has since disappeared.
Luke had the misfortune of making his college debut against Big 12 power Kansas State and faced Nebraska in his second outing – both times coming off the bench in relief of Weatherbie. He’s completed 14-of-40 passes for 153 yards with three interceptions in two games.
KU also tried scout team quarterback Greg Heaggans, another red-shirt freshman, against Nebraska. Heaggans is listed as a defensive back on KU’s roster, but he’s primarily been used on special teams. Heaggans, who played quarterback and defensive back at Kansas City Schlagle, did not attempt a pass against the Huskers.
“Greg’s a great athlete and he does a lot of things for us, but being a quarterback is not his cup of tea,” Mangino said. “He’s doing it out of just being an unselfish player and trying to help the team and to give Brian Luke a break. We have to be able to run and pass the ball effectively.”
Whittemore was doing just that before injuring his knee. He ranked third in the Big 12 in total offense before being knocked out of the MU game. The junior has been receiving treatment on his injured knee twice a day.
“Bill has been making a lot of progress,” Mangino said. “The trouble with the situation with Bill is he’ll have two good days in a row, then he’ll have a little setback. If he would continue to improve at a steady pace – and hopefully this week he will and he’ll be ready to go, but he just doesn’t have several good days in a row. That’s what’s holding him back.”
Mangino said that if Whittemore can’t play, it was likely that Luke would start with Dyer as backup.
Dyer completed 9-of-19 passes for 98 yards with one interception and no touchdowns in two games this season. Dyer, who was a part-time starter last season, is 57-of-120 in his career for 618 yards with five interceptions and three touchdowns.
Mangino said Dyer would practice with both the offense and defense this week in preparation for OSU. Heaggans also will practice as a quarterback.
Kevin Long will not. Long helped signal plays from the sideline Saturday – a job usually reserved for backup quarterbacks – after Luke went into the game. Mangino said the sophomore, who was recruited to KU as a quarterback before moving to tight end during spring drills, was not in the mix.
If Dyer moves from safety to quarterback, senior Jake Letourneau and sophomore Tony Stubbs would see more playing time in KU’s secondary.
The move would be temporary.
“We plan on using him on defense next year,” Mangino said. “He’s really making progress. It’s just too bad, for him personally and our defense, that we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
Kansas University’s football team is in dire need of a quarterback.
Zach Dyer might be the answer.
Dyer was KU’s starting quarterback in the season opener at Iowa State, but he was benched in favor of junior Bill Whittemore in the second half of a 45-3 loss in Ames, Iowa. After Whittemore emerged as one of the Big 12 Conference’s top offensive weapons, Dyer moved to safety in the seventh game of the season in an effort to bolster the Jayhawks’ struggling defense.
Dyer ranks sixth among KU’s tackling leaders with 48, despite playing defense for only the past five games and special teams the past six.
The junior, however, might be forced to move back to quarterback for Saturday’s season finale against Oklahoma State because of injuries to Whittemore and backup Jonas Weatherbie.
“We’re hoping Bill will feel well enough to do it, but there’s no guarantee,” said KU coach Mark Mangino, whose Jayhawks (2-9, 0-6 Big 12) play host to OSU (4-5, 2-3) at 1 p.m. “If Bill can’t go, we’ll probably go with Brian Luke and bring Zach Dyer over because we have to have at least two legitimate quarterbacks going into a game.”
Whittemore damaged the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the third quarter of KU’s loss at Missouri and has not played in the two games since. KU has scored only seven points in the nine quarters Whittemore has been sidelined.
Those seven points came on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Weatherbie to Byron Gasaway – KU’s longest pass play of the season – in Saturday’s 45-7 loss at Nebraska.
Weatherbie struggled at MU and in a home loss to Kansas State, but was off to a solid start against the Huskers before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee late in the first quarter. That injury ended the fifth-year senior’s season and career.
It also left KU with only one quarterback, Luke. The red-shirt freshman has had limited practice time because he suffered a broken thumb during the preseason and had his passing hand in a cast for more than a month.
Luke’s return provided depth at quarterback, allowing Dyer to move to defense for the Oct. 12 game against Colorado. That depth has since disappeared.
Luke had the misfortune of making his college debut against Big 12 power Kansas State and faced Nebraska in his second outing – both times coming off the bench in relief of Weatherbie. He’s completed 14-of-40 passes for 153 yards with three interceptions in two games.
KU also tried scout team quarterback Greg Heaggans, another red-shirt freshman, against Nebraska. Heaggans is listed as a defensive back on KU’s roster, but he’s primarily been used on special teams. Heaggans, who played quarterback and defensive back at Kansas City Schlagle, did not attempt a pass against the Huskers.
“Greg’s a great athlete and he does a lot of things for us, but being a quarterback is not his cup of tea,” Mangino said. “He’s doing it out of just being an unselfish player and trying to help the team and to give Brian Luke a break. We have to be able to run and pass the ball effectively.”
Whittemore was doing just that before injuring his knee. He ranked third in the Big 12 in total offense before being knocked out of the MU game. The junior has been receiving treatment on his injured knee twice a day.
“Bill has been making a lot of progress,” Mangino said. “The trouble with the situation with Bill is he’ll have two good days in a row, then he’ll have a little setback. If he would continue to improve at a steady pace – and hopefully this week he will and he’ll be ready to go, but he just doesn’t have several good days in a row. That’s what’s holding him back.”
Mangino said that if Whittemore can’t play, it was likely that Luke would start with Dyer as backup.
Dyer completed 9-of-19 passes for 98 yards with one interception and no touchdowns in two games this season. Dyer, who was a part-time starter last season, is 57-of-120 in his career for 618 yards with five interceptions and three touchdowns.
Mangino said Dyer would practice with both the offense and defense this week in preparation for OSU. Heaggans also will practice as a quarterback.
Kevin Long will not. Long helped signal plays from the sideline Saturday – a job usually reserved for backup quarterbacks – after Luke went into the game. Mangino said the sophomore, who was recruited to KU as a quarterback before moving to tight end during spring drills, was not in the mix.
If Dyer moves from safety to quarterback, senior Jake Letourneau and sophomore Tony Stubbs would see more playing time in KU’s secondary.
The move would be temporary.
“We plan on using him on defense next year,” Mangino said. “He’s really making progress. It’s just too bad, for him personally and our defense, that we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
