In a season in which Kansas University failed to win a conference football game, quarterback Bill Whittemore compiled statistics too good to be ignored.

The Fort Scott Community College transfer, who led KU in passing and was the teamâÂÂs second-leading rusher, was named Big 12 Conference Offensive Newcomer of the Year by the leagueâÂÂs coaches Saturday.

Whittemore, a 6-foot, 195-pound native of Brentwood, Tenn., completed 151 of 305 passes for 1,666 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions and carried the ball 137 times for 549 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Whittemore ran an option offense his freshman year at Tennessee-Martin before transferring to pass-oriented Fort Scott Community College. As a sophomore, he passed for 2,082 yards with 16 touchdowns and rushed for six TDs.

He proved to be a dual threat at Kansas. Whittemore started eight of nine games before missing KUâÂÂs final three games because of a knee injury. He ranks fourth in the league in total offense with an average of 246.1 yards per game.

âÂÂWhen we recruited him, we noticed that when he decided to pull the ball down and tuck it he made good decisions,â KU coach Mark Mangino said. âÂÂHe knew when to keep his eyes down the field to throw it, and he knew when it was time to tuck it, run it, protect it and get yardage. We also knew that he had some option background. In our offense, we wanted a quarterback that could be a straight drop-back passer, have the mobility to flush the pocket and still get the ball downfield and run a little bit of option. So heâÂÂs what weâÂÂre looking for. HeâÂÂs a young guy who never loses his poise, and heâÂÂs always trying to get better each week and every week by studying the game. HeâÂÂs a good fit for what weâÂÂre trying to do here.âÂÂ

Whittemore broke the KU single-season touchdowns-responsible-for record after being involved in 22 scores (11 rush, 11 pass). He also ranked in the top 10 on several other single-season KU lists:

⢠Total offense – fourth, 2,215 yards

⢠Completions – sixth, 151

⢠Passing touchdowns – tied for 10th, 11

⢠Rushing yards by a quarterback – second, 549.

He becomes the third Jayhawk to earn conference offensive newcomer of the year honors, following John Mosier (1967) and Kerwin Bell (1980).

Whittemore was not among the seven quarterbacks named to the all-league team.

Two KU seniors, offensive lineman Justin Sands and receiver Byron Gasaway, were honorable mention all-league selections.

The leagueâÂÂs coaches named Colorado running back Chris Brown offensive player of the year, and cornerback Terence Newman of Kansas State took defensive honors.

Coach of the year was Bill Snyder of Kansas State.

Defensive newcomer of the year was linebacker Lance Mitchell of Oklahoma. Quarterback Brad Smith of Missouri was named offensive freshman of the year. Defensive freshman of the year was tackle Rodrique Wright of Texas.