Athan Kaliakmanis Leaves Rutgers as a Program-Changer, Not Just a Quarterback
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Two years ago, Athan Kaliakmanis was a transfer quarterback with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. Now, he walks away from Rutgers as one of the most impactful signal-callers in program history - a player whose story is as much about resilience and growth as it is about stats and wins.
Kaliakmanis’ Rutgers journey came to a close Saturday night in a 40-36 loss to Penn State - a game that saw him throw for 338 yards and account for four total touchdowns. It wasn’t the ending he wanted, but it was a performance that encapsulated everything he became for the Scarlet Knights: tough, poised, and unshakably competitive.
“Right now, it hurts,” Kaliakmanis said after the game. “But I’m beyond thankful for the opportunity I got here.”
And it’s not hard to see why. Just two years ago, Kaliakmanis was coming off a rocky season at Minnesota.
He wasn’t exactly viewed as a can’t-miss prospect when he entered the transfer portal. In fact, by his own admission, he was seen as a bust.
“I wasn’t really a good football player at all,” he said. “But they trusted me.
They gave me an opportunity. And I’m just beyond grateful for it.”
That trust came in large part from offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who had coached Kaliakmanis at Minnesota and brought him to Rutgers ahead of the 2024 season. The two shared a bond that extended beyond the playbook, and it showed in how Kaliakmanis carried himself - and how he played.
Head coach Greg Schiano saw more than just a quarterback in Kaliakmanis. He saw a cultural fit.
A leader. Someone who could elevate the program, not just by throwing touchdowns, but by setting a tone.
“I just told him, he changed my life,” Kaliakmanis said of Schiano. “I’ve never met a coach like him.”
That mutual belief paid off. After winning the quarterback battle over Gavin Wimsatt - a former four-star recruit and the presumed starter - Kaliakmanis took command of the offense and never looked back. His play in the second half of the season was a key reason Rutgers became bowl eligible and finished with a winning record.
And while Saturday’s loss to Penn State will be remembered for a late fourth-quarter fumble, it shouldn’t overshadow what was otherwise a gutsy, high-level performance. Kaliakmanis completed 16 of 22 passes for 338 yards, threw three touchdowns, and added another score on the ground - all while taking heavy hits from a relentless Penn State defense. It was the kind of effort that keeps you in games you have no business being in.
“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Schiano said. “He feels like he let people down.
But I told him, ‘You didn’t let anybody down. You’re the reason we’re in the game in the fourth quarter.’”
Statistically, Kaliakmanis’ 2024 season was one for the Rutgers record books. His 3,124 passing yards rank fourth in a single season in program history. But his legacy goes beyond numbers.
This was a quarterback who stepped into a program still trying to find its offensive identity in the Big Ten and helped reshape it. He brought stability to the position, leadership to the locker room, and belief to a fan base that had been waiting for a player like him.
“I love him,” Schiano said. “He’s done incredible things here.
Think about a couple years ago - our passing game. Think about what he’s been able to accomplish.
He’s a 3,000-yard passer.”
That’s not just a stat. That’s a milestone for a program that’s rarely had consistent quarterback play at the Power Five level.
Kaliakmanis didn’t just play quarterback for Rutgers. He helped redefine what the position could look like in this system, in this conference, and in this moment for the Scarlet Knights.
And for that, he leaves not just as a productive player - but as a program-changer.