When Kansas University begins spring football drills March 10, Bill Whittemore expects to be ready to play.
KU’s junior quarterback started seven-on-seven drills with his teammates Monday and is participating in offseason conditioning drills without any restrictions.
“The knee’s not going to be a problem,” said Whittemore, who damaged the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in a 36-12 loss to Missouri on Oct. 26 at Columbia, Mo., and missed the final three games of the season. “Right now I’m wearing a little brace for precautionary reasons. I expect to be out of that in a couple of weeks.”
Whittemore’s freshman season at Tennessee-Martin was interrupted by an injured right knee, and his sophomore season at Fort Scott Community College ended because of an injured right shoulder. Both those ailments required surgery.
This time around, Whittemore didn’t need an operation but spent much of his winter break rehabilitating his knee back home in Tennessee.
“That’s what we’re concentrating on right now is getting the speed and quickness back,” he said. “I expect it to be back fully.”
That speed and quickness helped Whittemore (6-foot, 195 pounds) rush for 549 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games. He also passed for 1,666 yards and 10 TDs.
Whittemore ran an option offense his freshman year at Tennessee-Martin. At Kansas, he quickly developed a reputation in the Big 12 Conference for being a fearless runner who was more likely to run over a defender than slide or run out of bounds like many quarterbacks.
The league’s coaches honored his efforts by naming him Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
“What a tough kid,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said after Whittemore was injured in the Oct. 26 game. “I’d coach him in a minute. My hat’s off to him. I hope he’s OK. You talk about tough. He got hit a lot prior to his injury.”
Whittemore, in fact, carried the ball 137 times in nine games and was KU’s leading rusher before his injury.
Worried that his best offensive weapon might wear down, Kansas coach Mark Mangino had been trying to get Whittemore to slide more often. Ironically, Whittemore was trying to slide when he was hit hard by Mizzou lineman Russ Bell and linebacker Sean Doyle.
So will KU fans see Whittemore slide in 2003?
“I’m definitely going to have to work on it if I’m going to do it,” he said.
Without Whittemore, the Jayhawks were outscored 164-27 in losses to Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State and finished the season 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the league.
“I think if we would have had one more game I could have come back,” said Whittemore, who watched the final three games from the sideline.
KU used four different quarterbacks in those final three losses. Of the four, only red-shirt freshman Brian Luke would seem likely to play quarterback next season. Jonas Weatherbie was a senior. Junior Zach Dyer, who played quarterback and defensive back last season, is expected to play in the secondary this fall. Scout team quarterback Greg Heaggans, a junior, also is listed as defensive back.
That doesn’t mean Whittemore will be handed the starting job in the fall. KU has a verbal commitment from Adam Barmann (6-3, 195) of West Platte High School in Weston, Mo., and the Jayhawks have been pursuing junior college quarterbacks, as well.
“Bill’s done a pretty good job,” Mangino said after the season. “We’re very proud of Bill, but we’d be promoting complacency if we didn’t say all 22 guys had to compete for their positions.”
Whittemore is working to keep his top spot on the depth chart. The Jayhawks meet four days a week at 6:15 a.m. to run, and they also lift weights four days a week.
He admitted he’s “a little rusty” during seven-on-seven after more than two months off, but he doesn’t expect that to last long.
The Jayhawks hope the hard work pays dividends after struggling in Mangino’s first year.
“We haven’t talked about the season since we’ve been back,” Whittemore said. “No doubt it was a disappointing season. We’re looking to the future and working hard.”
Whittemore’s offseason work hasn’t been limited to conditioning. He also has helped out with KU’s recruiting efforts. He’s played host to a few visitors — including Northeastern Oklahoma offensive lineman Joe Vaughn (6-3, 290), who signed with KU and transferred for the spring semester.
KU also signed Alfred State receiver Lyonel Anderson (6-4, 230) and has a verbal commitment from Houston prep standout Moderick Johnson (6-5, 200). Those big targets could make life easier for Whittemore, whose passing numbers — 151 of 305 — would have been substantially better if not for numerous drops by an inexperienced group of receivers.
“He’s a heck of a recruiter,” Whittemore said of Mangino. “I’m looking forward to seeing who he brings in.”
When Kansas University begins spring football drills March 10, Bill Whittemore expects to be ready to play.
KU’s junior quarterback started seven-on-seven drills with his teammates Monday and is participating in offseason conditioning drills without any restrictions.
“The knee’s not going to be a problem,” said Whittemore, who damaged the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in a 36-12 loss to Missouri on Oct. 26 at Columbia, Mo., and missed the final three games of the season. “Right now I’m wearing a little brace for precautionary reasons. I expect to be out of that in a couple of weeks.”
Whittemore’s freshman season at Tennessee-Martin was interrupted by an injured right knee, and his sophomore season at Fort Scott Community College ended because of an injured right shoulder. Both those ailments required surgery.
This time around, Whittemore didn’t need an operation but spent much of his winter break rehabilitating his knee back home in Tennessee.
“That’s what we’re concentrating on right now is getting the speed and quickness back,” he said. “I expect it to be back fully.”
That speed and quickness helped Whittemore (6-foot, 195 pounds) rush for 549 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games. He also passed for 1,666 yards and 10 TDs.
Whittemore ran an option offense his freshman year at Tennessee-Martin. At Kansas, he quickly developed a reputation in the Big 12 Conference for being a fearless runner who was more likely to run over a defender than slide or run out of bounds like many quarterbacks.
The league’s coaches honored his efforts by naming him Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
“What a tough kid,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said after Whittemore was injured in the Oct. 26 game. “I’d coach him in a minute. My hat’s off to him. I hope he’s OK. You talk about tough. He got hit a lot prior to his injury.”
Whittemore, in fact, carried the ball 137 times in nine games and was KU’s leading rusher before his injury.
Worried that his best offensive weapon might wear down, Kansas coach Mark Mangino had been trying to get Whittemore to slide more often. Ironically, Whittemore was trying to slide when he was hit hard by Mizzou lineman Russ Bell and linebacker Sean Doyle.
So will KU fans see Whittemore slide in 2003?
“I’m definitely going to have to work on it if I’m going to do it,” he said.
Without Whittemore, the Jayhawks were outscored 164-27 in losses to Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State and finished the season 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the league.
“I think if we would have had one more game I could have come back,” said Whittemore, who watched the final three games from the sideline.
KU used four different quarterbacks in those final three losses. Of the four, only red-shirt freshman Brian Luke would seem likely to play quarterback next season. Jonas Weatherbie was a senior. Junior Zach Dyer, who played quarterback and defensive back last season, is expected to play in the secondary this fall. Scout team quarterback Greg Heaggans, a junior, also is listed as defensive back.
That doesn’t mean Whittemore will be handed the starting job in the fall. KU has a verbal commitment from Adam Barmann (6-3, 195) of West Platte High School in Weston, Mo., and the Jayhawks have been pursuing junior college quarterbacks, as well.
“Bill’s done a pretty good job,” Mangino said after the season. “We’re very proud of Bill, but we’d be promoting complacency if we didn’t say all 22 guys had to compete for their positions.”
Whittemore is working to keep his top spot on the depth chart. The Jayhawks meet four days a week at 6:15 a.m. to run, and they also lift weights four days a week.
He admitted he’s “a little rusty” during seven-on-seven after more than two months off, but he doesn’t expect that to last long.
The Jayhawks hope the hard work pays dividends after struggling in Mangino’s first year.
“We haven’t talked about the season since we’ve been back,” Whittemore said. “No doubt it was a disappointing season. We’re looking to the future and working hard.”
Whittemore’s offseason work hasn’t been limited to conditioning. He also has helped out with KU’s recruiting efforts. He’s played host to a few visitors — including Northeastern Oklahoma offensive lineman Joe Vaughn (6-3, 290), who signed with KU and transferred for the spring semester.
KU also signed Alfred State receiver Lyonel Anderson (6-4, 230) and has a verbal commitment from Houston prep standout Moderick Johnson (6-5, 200). Those big targets could make life easier for Whittemore, whose passing numbers — 151 of 305 — would have been substantially better if not for numerous drops by an inexperienced group of receivers.
“He’s a heck of a recruiter,” Whittemore said of Mangino. “I’m looking forward to seeing who he brings in.”
