Zach Dyer didn’t face much of a battle for playing time during spring football drills.

He might not be so lucky this month.

Zach Dyer didn't have much competition in the spring, but that should change this fall.

Dyer, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior from Olathe South, passed for 460 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions as a part-time starter last fall when KU ranked last in the Big 12 Conference in scoring offense (16.5 points per game) and total offense (269.5 yards per game).

Despite those modest numbers, Dyer emerged as the first-string quarterback during the spring.

First, Mario Kinsey who split time with Dyer in 2001 was kicked off the team by first-year coach Mark Mangino in December and transferred to Sam Houston State.

Second, heralded Fort Scott Community College transfer Bill Whittemore was limited during spring drills by a sore throwing arm.

Whittemore (6-1, 190) completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,082 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore, despite playing only eight games because of a shoulder injury. He had surgery in November and couldn’t throw a ball for three months. During the spring, he suffered from arm fatigue.

Thus, the expected quarterback battle never developed between the two juniors.

Whittemore, however, said he expected to be ready for fall practices.

“He’s one of many questions we have on our football team,” Mangino said. “We’re anxious to see him healthy, but we’re not overly concerned about Bill or the quarterback position. We think we have some quality kids there and that we’re going to be pretty solid at that position.”

Veteran wide receiver Harrison Hill received special dispensation to return for a sixth year on KU's football team.

Dyer was the pleasant surprise for Mangino’s new staff, thriving in the coach’s spread offense.

“I don’t think Zach had a lot of supporters after last season,” Mangino said. “It’s been beneficial to Zach to have a new system to work in and an opportunity to work with new coaches. I think he’s benefited greatly from that.”

Dyer completed 9-of-17 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns all in the first half of the first-string Blue’s 42-3 victory over the reserve Whites in the spring game.

“He’s been a really solid guy,” Mangino said. “I’m really pleased with his progress. I think he has the chance to be a really good quarterback in the Big 12.”

Receivers

Whoever winds up over center for KU will have plenty of targets. Though KU’s leading receivers last season were seniors Roger Ross and Termaine Fulton 11 Jayhawks who caught at least one pass are expected to return.

Returnees are senior Byron Gasaway (6-3, 210) and junior Derick Mills (5-7, 165). Gasaway caught 18 passes for 200 yards in a starting role, while Mills pulled in 16 receptions for 268 yards and a team-high three touchdowns as a reserve.

The Jayhawks’ most dangerous receiver, however, might be senior Harrison Hill (6-0, 200). Hill was granted a sixth year of eligibility after being limited to two games by a shoulder injury last season. The Wichita Collegiate product ranks among KU’s all-time leaders with 104 receptions for 1,535 yards.

“There’s a lot of potential at the wide receiver position,” Mangino said. “That could end up being a real strong suit of our offense.”

Tight ends

At the end of spring drills, junior Adrian Jones (6-5, 265) had supplanted senior starter David Hurst (6-3, 270) at the top of the depth chart.

Expect both tight ends to be utilized more than last season when Jones caught seven passes and Hurst had none. Hurst, a three-year starter, had a career-best 11 receptions including nine TDs as a freshman in 1999.

“The competition between Adrian and David has brought out the best in both of them,” Mangino said.

Quarterbacks Kyle Cernech (6-2, 200) and Kevin Long (6-5, 210) moved from quarterback to tight end during the spring.

Running backs

There is also competition in the backfield, where spring drills did little to separate junior Reggie Duncan (5-9, 215) from red-shirt freshman Clark Green (5-11, 200).

Duncan led KU with 739 yards rushing last season, but the Killeen, Texas, product had a knack for getting into trouble off the field.

Mangino said those days are over.

“Reggie is doing everything we’ve asked him to do both on the field, in the classroom and in his personal life, so he’s been on the right track and we’re confident he’ll stay on that track,” Mangino said.

The only thing likely to derail Duncan is Green.

Mangino said Green is his best blocking back and also is a solid receiver.

In the spring game, the backs put up similar numbers. Duncan had 84 yards on 15 carries, while Green had 75 yards on 20 attempts.

Duncan said he was more concerned with winning games than starting and expected both backs to get their share of carries.

“Clark Green had a great spring,” Mangino said. “There’s been good competition between Reggie and Clark. We think we can have a pretty decent backfield.”

Junior Harold McClendon (5-11, 190) could also be a factor at tailback, and sophomore Dan Coke (5-11, 210) could see playing time at tailback and fullback.

Offensive line

Uncertainty exists about who will be blocking for those backs.

Graduation claimed four veterans, including NFL draft pick Justin Hartwig. Injuries also took a toll, and starter Kyle Grady joined the coaching staff as a student assistant after he was unable to recover from a knee injury.

Left tackle Justin Sands is the only returning starter on the line. An inexperienced group is left to fill the holes. Senior Tony Damiani (6-3, 280) and junior Kregg Schmidt (6-3, 285) top the depth chart at left guard.

Red-shirt freshman Justin Henry (6-4, 245) moved from tight end during spring drills and is listed No. 1 at center ahead of senior Greg Nicks (6-3, 300).

Nicks, however, is listed first at right guard ahead of junior Danny Lewis (6-4, 280), who red-shirted last season after transferring from Phoenix CC.

Sophomore Tony Coker (6-5, 315), in his second go-around at Kansas, is the projected starter at right tackle. The Hoisington product was a red-shirt freshman at KU in 2000, played last season at Hutchinson CC and rejoined the KU program last winter.

Coker will be backed by senior Gabe Rosalis (6-4, 300).

“It’s a group that’s pretty athletic,” Mangino said. “We need to get stronger and more physical up front. From what I’ve seen in the spring and the way our kids have progressed in the summer program, some of these kids are really big and strong. That’s what we really need.”

The Jayhawks also need more time to learn the new coach’s scheme. And questions remain. Who will be the quarterback? Which tailback will get the most carries?

These questions and many others will be answered when the Jayhawks open the season Aug. 31 at Iowa State.

“There’s a lot of questions that we have,” Mangino said, “and we won’t be able to answer some of those questions until we get out on the field and play an opponent.”