Zach Dyer opened and closed the 2002 college football season as Kansas University’s starting quarterback.
In between, during the games Bill Whittemore was healthy, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound former Olathe South standout started in the defensive backfield, finishing as KU’s seventh-leading tackler with 48.
Admittedly, Dyer had a lot of fun his junior campaign, but no more than he’s having this year as a seldom-used senior strong safety.
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to be in there more,” said Dyer, relegated to special teams for the 4-1 Jayhawks. “But I wouldn’t say it is disappointing or taking away from my season. It’s been great so far, especially with the success we’ve had.”
Exclusively a strong safety this year, Dyer is second team at that position with fellow senior Dan Coke. Junior Tony Stubbs is the starter.
KU coach Mark Mangino said it wasn’t easy to move Dyer down the depth chart.
“Those are the tough decisions that come with this job that we don’t like to do, but we have to,” Mangino said. “But let me tell you this: Zach Dyer has everybody’s respect here. In the final analysis, that’s the most important thing about your college experience — what you get out of it, and how people view you during your career. And everybody in this program respects Zach Dyer.”
Dyer grinned when asked what he missed the most — playing quarterback or d-back.
“It’s tough to answer that question,” he said. “I played quarterback my whole life. I really only played defense three-fourths of one high school season. My focus was always offense. I think like a quarterback. When I turn on TV, I watch the quarterbacks.”
Dyer, who is one of KU’s five team captains, has gracefully accepted a reduced role.
“He is a guy who goes out there and has fun. He enjoys it and doesn’t worry about, ‘Am I going to start this game?'” senior punter Curtis Ansel said. “All he wants to do is be on the field, be around us like a family. He knows this is competitive between everybody.
“Coach Mangino has brought in a lot of competitive guys this year. That’s what the team needs. You’ve got to have depth at every position.”
An influx of talent has helped KU win four of five games — including an exciting home win over Missouri — heading into Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. (CDT) contest at Colorado.
![]() ![]() ![]() |
“Let me tell you something, and I mean this sincerely,” Mangino said. “I don’t know what went on in this football program before I got here, but one of the best investments they ever made was a scholarship in Zach Dyer. He has great leadership qualities, he’s a scholar. He’s a good citizen. He cares about people. His teammates respect him greatly. We’ll take all the Zach Dyers we can get.”
Dyer will complete his master’s in sports administration in May and hopes to attend KU School of Law next year.
Estrella was the second junior-college offensive lineman to leave KU this year. Mount San Antonio product Johnny Urrutia didn’t meet academic transfer requirements this summer.