Don’t give up on Bill Whittemore just yet.

Whittemore, a touted junior college transfer, has been hampered by a sore throwing arm this spring and junior Zach Dyer has emerged as Kansas University’s No. 1 quarterback heading into tonight’s spring game.

Whittemore stressed he has plenty of time to recover before two-a-day practices begin in the fall.

“I don’t know what they expect out of me,” Whittemore said, “but I have high expectations. I want to come out and do my best.”

KU’s coaches haven’t seen the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder’s best yet. Whittemore threw for 2,082 yards and 16 touchdowns last season at Fort Scott Community College, despite playing only eight games due to a shoulder injury. He had surgery on his throwing arm in November and didn’t throw a pass for about three months.

“I hadn’t thrown the ball in a while,” said Whittemore, who was named the MVP of the Jayhawk Conference. “Then to come out here and throw a lot … it’s just worn out.”

Coach Mark Mangino said he might limit Whittemore’s repetitions in the spring game, but he expected the battle for the quarterback job to last into the fall. The season opener is Aug. 31 at Iowa State, giving Whittemore a little more than four months to regain the form that allowed the Nashville, Tenn., native to complete 59 percent of his passes as a sophomore.

“I’ll rest if for a few weeks after the spring game,” Whittemore said. “I’ll work out and try to get my strength back. Then I’ll start throwing again.”

In the meantime, Whittemore is trying to get a good grasp of KU’s new offense.

“We’re still learning the system here, and that’s what comes first,” he said.