Meet the New Signal Caller in Piscataway

By Eric Boggs from The OHIO Podcast

Rutgers just dropped a bombshell, and it’s shaking up the quarterback room in Piscataway, New Jersey.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Athan Kaliakmanis has snagged the starting quarterback spot at Rutgers. And guess what? This decision hit the news before the birds started chirping on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Gavin Wimsatt, the guy who rocked the Scarlet Knights’ QB throne all last season, is packing his bags for the transfer portal. But hey, Wimsatt’s got two more shots at college ball with his eligibility intact.

Sources: Rutgers has named Minnesota transfer QB Athan Kaliakmanis the starting quarterback. Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt, who started 18 games the last two years, has initiated the process of entering the transfer portal and will have two years of eligibility remaining. pic.twitter.com/rPcJOLAoU1
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 1, 2024

Now, let’s talk Kaliakmanis. This dude has been grinding for quite some time, with 17 games under his belt at Minnesota. And this season, he has snagged the permanent starting gig for Greg Schiano after transfering to Rutgers. He’s slung 1,838 yards, tossed 14 touchdowns, but also chucked nine interceptions. Not bad, right? Well, Minnesota’s season ended at 5-7, with a meh 3-6 conference record. But hold up, Kaliakmanis isn’t just about stats on paper. He’s got the moves on the field too.

Last Saturday, Kaliakmanis strutted his stuff before the Rutgers faithful at the Scarlet Knights Spring Game. Playing alongside Rutgers’ offensive mastermind, Kirk Ciarrocca, he finished with 10 completions out of 17 attempts, totaling 147 yards and two touchdowns. Oh, and there’s more—he nailed a sweet 42-yard pass to Naseim Brantley and even hooked up with his brother, Dino, for a smooth nine-yard touchdown. Talk about family pride!

Now, let’s not forget about Wimsatt. He strutted into Rutgers with a shiny four-star recruit badge, second only to a legendary QB in the program’s history. But things didn’t quite pan out as expected last season. Wimsatt’s completion rate? A rough 47.5%, landing him among the nation’s bottom feeders. Ouch! He did rack up 1,735 passing yards, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. And hey, his legs got some action too, racking up 497 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. But alas, the passing game struggled, making the Scarlet Knights’ offense one-dimensional.

The College Huddle’s Ruthers representative, Larry K from the Knight Watch, has already posted a reaction video to today’s quarterback news, which you can view below:

So, what’s the deal for the 2024 season? The verdict’s in early this time around. Kaliakmanis is taking the reins, and fans are buzzing with anticipation for what’s to come. Strap in, folks—it’s going to be one heck of a ride with Kaliakmanis leading the charge!