Athan Kaliakmanis

Kaliakmanis was born on August 20, 2003, and grew up in Antioch, Illinois, later attending Antioch Community High School.^[1] In 2021, he was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year after completing 77 of 132 passes for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns to just one interception. He also rushed 40 times for 245 yards and four touchdowns.^[2] Kaliakmanis committed to play college football at the University of Minnesota.^[3]

Kaliakmanis redshirted as a freshman at Minnesota. As a sophomore, he made his debut against New Mexico State and had his first touchdown against Western Illinois.^[4] In the seventh game of the season, Kaliakmanis got his first career start at Penn State after starting quarterback Tanner Morgan went down with a concussion. In his first start he struggled, completing 9 of 22 passes for 175 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 45–17 loss.^[5] Kaliakmanis got his next chance in a week 9 matchup against Nebraska after Morgan again went down with an injury in the third quarter. Kaliakmanis went six for 12 for 137 yards in a 20–13 win after being down 10–0 at halftime.^[6] The next week Kaliakmanis earned his first win as a starter after going seven of 13 for 64 yards in a 31–3 win over Northwestern.^[7] Kaliakmanis got his third start against Iowa, going seven for 15 for 87 yards and an interception in a 13–10 last-second loss.^[8] Kaliakmanis started the season finale against Wisconsin and completed 19 of 29 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown to La'Meke Brockington, as the Golden Gophers won 23–16, and was named the Big Ten Conference co-freshman of the week.^[9] Kaliakmanis started in the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl against Syracuse and completed seven of nine passes for 80 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game with a lower leg injury.^[10]

Kaliakmanis became the Golden Gophers starting quarterback in 2023.^[11]

On November 28, 2023, Kaliakmanis announced that he would be entering the NCAA transfer portal.^[12]

On January 2, 2024, Kaliakmanis announced that he would be transferring to Rutgers University to play for the Scarlet Knights.^[13] He joined his brother, Dino, a wide receiver who had also transferred from Minnesota to Rutgers.^[14]

College statistics

Season	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2021	Minnesota	0	0	—	Redshirted
2022	Minnesota	11	5	3−2	60	111	54.1	946	8.5	3	4	127.4	34	140	4.1	1
2023	Minnesota	12	12	5–7	156	294	53.1	1,838	6.3	14	9	115.2	74	94	1.3	2
2024	Rutgers	13	13	7–6	213	395	53.9	2,696	6.8	18	7	122.8	92	251	2.7	3
2025	Rutgers	12	12	5–7	229	368	62.2	3,124	8.5	20	7	147.7	58	3	0.1	2
Career		48	42	20−22	658	1,168	55.8	8,604	7.5	55	27	128.3	258	488	1.9	8

Kaliakmanis was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round, 223rd overall, of the 2026 NFL draft.^[16]