Rutgers Athletics has handed out its annual honors, recognizing a wide range of student-athletes across the department for what they did on the field, in the classroom, and across their careers.
The biggest individual honors went to Athan Kaliakmanis and Charlee Crawford, who earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor. The award goes to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each Big Ten school who has shown excellence on and off the field.
Kaliakmanis capped his senior season with 3,124 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, then added four rushing scores. His passing total ranked fourth in a single season in program history, and his 260.3 passing yards per game were second in the Big Ten. He was later selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Washington Commanders.
Crawford turned in a record-setting run during her Rutgers career. She now owns the school marks in both the indoor and outdoor 400 meters, and she also helped the sprint medley relay team set the school record in 2024 with a time of 3:47.28. Over her career, she posted seven podium finishes, qualified twice for the NCAA East First Round, reached the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and was named an All-American honorable mention.
Another pair of standouts, KJ Duff and Katie Buck, took home Bauer Athlete of the Year honors. That award goes to one male and one female student-athlete from any class who has consistently excelled in competition over the most recent academic year.
Duff’s season put him on several preseason watchlists after he piled up 1,084 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Buck also put together a major year, earning First Team All-Big Ten recognition, a Second Team IWLCA All-Region nod, and honorable mention All-American status while finishing with 166 draw controls, 30 ground balls, and 28 caused turnovers.
Rutgers also recognized its class-by-class standouts. Lucas Politano of men’s golf and Emily Nichols of field hockey were named freshmen of the year.
Remy Cotton of wrestling and Caroline Ling of women’s lacrosse won the sophomore honors. Tariq Francis of men’s basketball and Sam Rowher of softball were the junior recipients, while Joe Juengerkes and Gabrielle Dildy earned the senior awards.
The Coursen Award and Headley-Singer Award were also part of the annual presentation. Those honors are reserved for the most outstanding male and female student-athlete from the graduating class who has competed in intercollegiate athletics and shown determination, courage, modesty, self-discipline, and unselfish devotion to teammates, while representing Rutgers to the highest standards.
Antwan Raymond received the Werblin Award, which is presented to any male or female student-athlete who earned national recognition or won a national championship during the most recent academic year. Raymond was one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker National Running Back Award, won the Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in college football, and was named a Fourth Team All-America selection by Phil Steele. He finished last season with 244 carries for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Rutgers also listed the Athletic Director’s Excellence Award among its annual honors.
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For Rutgers, the list is more than a preseason talking point. It reflects a roster that has added proven production in key spots and gives the Scarlet Knights a clearer sense of how much NFL-caliber talent is starting to accumulate. Needhams experience, Morris all-around production and the transfer track records of Burnett, Davis and Sanders all add weight to the idea that this group is deeper and more competitive than it was a year ago, even if the biggest test of that progress still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]
KJ Duff Nearly Became Rutgers Latest Portal Gut Punch
KJ Duff spent enough time weighing his options this offseason to make Rutgers sweat a little, but the wide receiver ultimately decided to run it back for another year. After considering the transfer portal, Duff said his development under wide receivers coach Dave Brock and his relationship with the staff helped steer him back toward Piscataway, with his long-term goal of reaching the NFL still front and center.
Greg Schiano and Brock were both part of the conversations that kept Duff in place, underscoring how important the coaching side of the equation has become for a player who emerged as one of Rutgers most productive weapons. For the Scarlet Knights, it is the kind of retention that can quietly matter as much as any addition, especially when a receiver with Duffs trajectory has enough value to draw real interest elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Womens Lacrosse Lands Cascade Maverik Deal As Program Momentum Grows
Rutgers womens lacrosse keeps adding to a busy stretch off the field, with the program now lined up with Cascade Maverik Lacrosse for gear and equipment. For a team that has been building its profile on the field, the partnership gives the Scarlet Knights another sign of support as they continue competing at the collegiate level with a growing standard around the program.
The deal also fits the bigger picture around Rutgers recent momentum, which has included an 11-win season, four Big Ten victories and an NCAA Tournament berth after a win over No. 17 Princeton. With that kind of progress, a partnership built around innovative lacrosse products feels like another step in treating the program more like a rising contender than a team still trying to prove it belongs. [Read more 🡒]