Rutgers football training camp takeaways: The Athan Kaliakmanis era officially begins

PISCATAWAY – The Athan Kaliakmanis era officially began Monday as Rutgers football took the field for its first practice of training camp, one month ahead of the opening game for a highly anticipated season.

Coach Greg Schiano anointed Kaliakmanis QB1 immediately following spring practices, giving the Minnesota transfer the rest of the summer to cement himself as the leader of the offense.

But Kaliakmanis wasn’t letting his status as the starter alter his preparation.

Actually the opposite.

“I still approach every day as if I wasn’t the starter,” Kaliakmanis said. “That’s just how I approach things. So it didn’t really change much. I approached it with extreme intensity.”

The Scarlet Knights are hoping to get more production from the quarterback position and boast a more explosive passing game and they’ve turned to Kaliakmanis to make that happen.

Rutgers football has turned to Athan Kaliakmanis to get more production from the quarterback position.

One thing is clear: Kaliakmanis, who threw for 2,784 yards and 17 touchdowns in 23 games (17 starts) with the Golden Gophers, will have talent around him.

Rutgers has a deep wide receiver room that includes Monmouth transfer Dymere Miller, returning slot receiver Christian Dremel, Naseim Brantley and Chris Long, as well as a bevy of young wideouts like Ian Strong, Benjamin Black and Korey Duff Jr., among others.

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How will Rutgers determine who gets playing time from that group?

The answer is pretty simple.

“Performance,” coach Greg Schiano said. “You give us the best chance to win, you’re going to be the first receiver. Second-best chance, you’re the second. Third-best, third. All the way down. We usually get seven or eight guys ready to go each week. That’s…


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Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2024-07-29 17:39:04

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