Rutgers Football QB Athan Kaliakmanis Talks Training Camp Day One
The smell of football is in the air as Rutgers had its first day of training camp in preparation for the 2025 season.
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis detailed how he has seen the team grow over the offseason and the expectations they have set for themselves.
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“Just confidence in the scheme and guys, we put in a lot of work together this offseason, and I think we’re all more confident in each other,” he said. “When I talk to receivers, we have expectations for each other. I’ll keep that between us, but we have expectations for each other.”
Kaliakmanis enters his second go-around with the Scarlet Knights following a year where he started all 13 games and threw for 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 53.9 throwing percentage.
He was also the first Rutgers quarterback to reach 2,000 yards in a season since 2015 and had the most passing yards since 2014.
“I think this game slows down a little bit more as you get more experience, and I think the game will slow down a little bit for me just because of my understanding of it now,” the fifth-year signal caller said. “I think that’s from all the work we put in with the receivers, running backs, and tight ends, and I think that will show the more we practice.”
Kaliakmanis spent his first three seasons at Minnesota, where he accumulated 2,784 yards and 17 touchdowns in 23 games. He did not see action in his freshman year.
The Kirk and Kal connection
Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca and Kaliakmanis are no strangers to one another, as the duo spent time together with the Golden Gophers before joining up in Piscataway.
Kaliakmanis explained how that connection helps him prepare for the upcoming season.
“Being with Coach Ciarrocca for another year is awesome,” he said. “I’m excited for it and excited for the first day. We’re staying here and present, not focused on tomorrow, so I’m going to go in there, eat lunch, watch some film, and think about the mistakes I made and how to correct them.”
He also discussed how he has grown mentally over his career and how every season is a year of development.
“That’s what you do as a quarterback from the moment you jump into college,” Kaliakmanis said. “Every year I play football, I should be getting smarter mentally and more comfortable with schemes because I have that much more experience under my belt. So, I’d say every year in college is my development.”
A close but competitive QB room
Despite entering camp as the clear-cut starter, Kaliakmanis described how he takes advice from his fellow signal callers and constantly looks for ways to improve his game.
“I tell people all the time, it doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are, I’m looking to take bits out of your game because I know you got something I don’t have,” he said. “You’re at this level for a reason, so I’m taking bits out of everybody’s game.”
He also discussed how he has seen the quarterback room grow and the bond they share.
“AJ [Surace] has gotten a lot better, and so have Rocco [Rainone] and Sean [Ashenfelder],” Kaliakmanis said. “If I see something that I don’t have in my game that they do well, I want to implement it in mine and ask them questions. That’s just how we all talk, we compete with each other not against each other.”
Questions left to be answered
The Scarlet Knights entered camp with questions on the offensive line after losing All-Big Ten starter Hollin Pierce to the draft. Kaliakamanis explained though how he is confident the situation will settle itself.
“I feel comfortable with whoever’s there because I know whoever it is earned it,” he said. “There’s a lot of competition everywhere, and I feel the same way. We have a competitive football team, and that’s not just in practice; we’ll compete in anything. That’s just what this team is.”
In addition, Kaliakmanis discussed the depth the Scarlet Knights possess and how last year’s experience will only help the younger players.
“I don’t think there’s a drop off anywhere, not even just the receivers, but the defensive backs too,” he said. “Playing against them today, these guys can play, and it goes at every position across the board. The guys who were younger last year and got a little bit more experience are better because of it. Now, they’re here after being thrown into the fire and are playing exceptionally well and smarter.”
Kaliakmanis also talked about the expectations for the running back room and how he anticipates they will be utilized.
“I think there will be a couple of guys who will stand in, we have a good running back room, and the same with the receivers,” he said. “It’s not going to be one guy, we’re going to have people rotating in and out of positions. I’m not the coach though, Coach [Greg] Schiano is going to make those decisions, and we fully trust in him and the things he’s going to do.”
