Latest news with #AthanKaliakmanis
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How good can Rutgers football's offense be? Here's what the unit looks like with camp starting
LAS VEGAS – One of the big questions facing Rutgers football with the Scarlet Knights set to kick off training camp is just how good its offense can be. Rutgers has continuity at quarterback with Athan Kaliakmanis returning. It has an offensive line that's continued to make progress, though it'll be missing a major piece. It has solid wide receivers, and added another via the transfer portal. And it has high-quality running backs, though it has to replace one of the most prolific backs in program history. Coach Greg Schiano is optimistic about the unit's potential, but he's also not glossing over the loss of talent it needs to account for. 'This could be a good offense,' Schiano said in a meeting with local reporters at Big Ten Media Days. 'But everything's got to go just right to be really good. We've got to stay healthy, guys have got to develop at the rate we expect them to.' The Scarlet Knights made substantial progress last season in Kirk Ciarrocca's second year as offensive coordinator. Rutgers averaged 28.9 points per game, the most since 2008. Kaliakmanis was at the middle of that, throwing for 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns. But so was Kyle Monangai, who rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns. Rutgers will undoubtedly miss the standard and example that Monangai, a seventh-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, on and off the field. 'We lost one of the best players to have played here in Kyle Monangai,' Schiano said. 'Not just his on-field performance – I spoke to some people out in Chicago and they're saying, 'This guy is unbelievable. His preparation, his professionalism.' So we lost a very important player there.' The Scarlet Knights return Antwan Raymond, Ja'shon Benjamin and Sam Brown. They also brought in FAU transfer CJ Campbell Jr. "I feel like we haven't missed a beat," Kaliakmanis said. "We're good. They're working really hard. We have a great running back coach in Coach (Damiere) Shaw. He gets their best out of them every single day. That's all you can ask for." Rutgers at wide receiver needs to replace Dymere Miller and Christian Dremel, but has a talented group returning including Ian Strong, KJ Duff and Ben Black. The Scarlet Knights also added North Texas transfer DT Sheffield. It's also going to help to have Kenny Fletcher back healthy at tight end – the Delran product showed promise at the position after moving over from defensive end, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the sixth game. He caught 20 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns until the injury. 'We lost a couple (of players), but I think we have a lot of returning players,' Schiano said. 'Kenny's on schedule. We thought Kenny started very well. We added some players that I think can help. We'll see. The O-line has a chance. But I think replacing Hollin is not a little thing.' There's no doubt about that. Pierce, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, started 50 consecutive games with the Scarlet Knights. He was an anchor for the line at left tackle. 'Every week you take him for granted – I didn't take him for granted, but a lot of people did,' Schiano said. 'He got better and better and better.' Tyler Needham is likely the leading candidate to take over at left tackle with training camp set to begin, but nothing is guaranteed. If everything does go right, Rutgers' offense has a chance to be highly productive. It's come a long way in the past couple seasons. The Scarlet Knights also substantial talent, but they added some too. How much better it can be will soon be determined. This article originally appeared on Rutgers football: How good can offense be this season?
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rutgers football at Big Ten Media Days: Key takeaways
LAS VEGAS – Greg Schiano left no doubt. The Rutgers football coach stood at the podium inside Mandalay Bay Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days and when he mentioned his starting quarterback, Schiano made sure everyone knew Athan Kaliakmanis' standing in the locker room. 'He has become a leader of our program,' Schiano said. 'This is definitely his football team.' It's been quite a ride for Kaliakmanis since joining the Scarlet Knights about a year and a half ago. Kaliakmanis transferred from Minnesota to reunite with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. He was thrust into a battle for Rutgers' starting quarterback job with Gavin Wimsatt, ultimately won it and later put together a productive first season in a Scarlet Knights uniform. In that time Kaliakmanis earned the clear respect of his teammates – not always easy for a transfer, especially one who was battling with a well-liked player in Wimsatt, who entered the transfer portal after losing the competition. Looking back at those early days Tuesday, Kaliakmanis acknowledged the initial adjustment wasn't always easy. 'It was extremely difficult for me,' Kaliakmanis said. 'I wasn't sure what was going to happen. But it all worked out. I'm grateful that it did. But it was definitely difficult.' Kaliakmanis last season completed 213 of his 395 pass attempts (53.9 percent) for 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led an offense that averaged 28.9 points per game, Rutgers' best mark since 2008. Along the way he became an unquestioned leader in the locker room. How did he reach that point? 'My words met my actions,' Kaliakmanis said. 'I took that very seriously. Something Coach Ciarrocca and I talked about. I showed up every day, I never took a day off. I came here every day and I still am – the season's not over. I come and I'm ready to go. There's no days off for me. I'm not coming in there going through the motions.' Kaliakmanis sees the same level of work ethic from his teammates. The QB has set the tone. 'All the other guys are doing it too,' Kaliakmanis said. 'That's why I'm so proud of this team. We're working really hard. We're all excited for camp.' Dariel Djabome ready to build off breakout season Djabome was a relatively under-the-radar linebacker when last season began. Then the Canada native put together a breakout season, finishing with a team-leading 105 tackles (7.5 for loss) with 3.5 sacks. It was a big year in his first season as a starter. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Djabome became one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten. Under the radar, no more. The fact that he was one of three players representing the Scarlet Knights at Big Ten Media Days says a lot on its own. 'Now that I'm people know a little bit more about me,' Djabome said. 'It doesn't change a bit for me. I still have the same goal. It's unfinished business. I'm at Rutgers for only one reason – to help my team win games. I just feel like if I give the best version of myself we're going to have a great chance to have the best season possible.' Rutgers' defense has undergone plenty of changes since last season, starting at the top with the departure of former coordinator Joe Harasymiak, now the head coach at UMass. Robb Smith and Zach Sparber are now co-defensive coordinators. The Scarlet Knights also lost several key pieces, including linebacker Tyreem Powell, cornerback Robert Longerbeam, defensive end Wesley Bailey and linebacker Mohamed Toure, who transferred to Miami. But Rutgers added talent, too, bringing in defensive ends Eric O'Neill and Bradley Weaver, safety Jett Elad and defensive tackle Doug Blue-Eli, among others. 'I think we could be elite on defense,' Djabome said. 'The guys are buying in. It's hard at times, there were a lot of changes, with the coaches, even the players, the roster. But I feel like what we have right now, everybody is buying in and everybody wants to see improvement and everybody's trying to figure it out.' This article originally appeared on Rutgers football: Big Ten Media Day takeaways
Newsweek
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Rutgers Spring Game: Live Stream College Football, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Rutgers will hit the field for the first time this season in the Scarlet and White Spring Game on Saturday. Fans will get their first preview of what's in store for the upcoming season. Tune in to the Big Ten Network to watch the Rutgers Spring Game. Running back Antwan Raymond #21 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs during the Rate Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Chase Field on December 26, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Scarlet... Running back Antwan Raymond #21 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs during the Rate Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Chase Field on December 26, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Scarlet Knights 44-41. More Photo byHow to Watch Rutgers Spring Game: Date: Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM EDT Channel: Big Ten Network Stream: Fubo (Try for free) Rutgers is coming off a 7-6 season overall that saw the team go 4-5 in Big Ten play. The team ranked 57th in the country in scoring offense and 70th in scoring defense and ended the year with a 44-41 loss to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl. The Scarlet Knights seem to be on the way up and will look to be even better in 2025. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis is locked in as the leader on offense but the team will hope that FAU transfer CJ Campbell Jr. can take over at running back, as Kyle Monangai was a huge part of the team's success last season. The spring game is also a chance to see portal additions Eric O'Neill and Bradley Weaver, a pair of talented Group of Five pass rushers who will hope to continue playing well in the Big Ten. Tune in to the Big Ten Network on Saturday for the Rutgers Spring Game. Start your free trial of Fubo now to ensure you don't miss the action. Live stream the Rutgers Spring Game on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
