As the regular season begins, Rutgers football will have a new starting quarterback in Athan Kaliakmanis. Kaliakmanis, who previously played for Minnesota, was named the starter after an impressive performance during spring practice on May 1. He joined Rutgers as a transfer during the offseason and will be leading the team in his first season as the starter.
Rutgers finished last season with a winning record and a bowl victory. The Scarlet Knights defeated Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl to end the season 7-6. Kaliakmanis brings experience from his time at Minnesota, where he threw 17 touchdown passes and recorded 2,784 passing yards. He also showed versatility as a threat on the ground, rushing for 234 yards.
Despite his recent transition to Rutgers, Kaliakmanis has a strong connection with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who recruited him to Minnesota. The team is hoping Kaliakmanis can improve their passing game, as they ranked last in the Big Ten last season in completion rate. In the spring game, Kaliakmanis displayed his accuracy by completing 10 of 17 passes for 147 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown pass.
Kaliakmanis has already developed trust with his new coaches, including head coach Greg Schiano. His familiarity with Ciarrocca and Schiano has helped ease his transition to a new team. Kaliakmanis is excited for the opportunity to lead Rutgers and is looking forward to making an impact on the field when the regular season begins.
As Rutgers kicks off its season against Howard on August 31st, fans will be eagerly watching if their new starting quarterback can live up to expectations.
