PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football QB Athan Kaliakmanis earned a spot on the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list released Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top quarterback who best exemplifies character, scholastic and athletic achievement.

Kaliakmanis enters his second season with the Scarlet Knights after starting all 13 games in 2024. The quarterback completed 213-of-395 passes (53.9 percent) for 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns in becoming the first Rutgers passer to reach 2,000 yards in a season since 2015 and accumulated the most passing yards since 2014. He was the only Big Ten player to attempt all its team's passes.

A team captain, the offense averaged 28.9 points per game for the season, the best mark since 2008. The unit converted on third down at a clip of 44 percent, the team's best mark in the Big Ten era, and picked up 293 first downs, the second-most in a season in program history.

For his career, Kaliakmanis has played in 36 games with 5,480 passing yards and 41 touchdowns accounted for (35 passing, six rushing). He was previously named to the Shrine Bowl 1000 and is a graduate student in the gifted education program.



The Scarlet Knights are coming off a second straight winning season, posting a program-high points per game in the Big Ten era. The 2025 campaign, which starts Aug. 28 versus Ohio, opens with four consecutive games at SHI Stadium for the first time since hosting five in a row to begin 2007.

Season and single game tickets are on sale. To purchase, visit ScarletKnights.com/tickets or call 866-445-GORU (4678). Benefits of being a season ticket holder include an exclusive opportunity to purchase season parking on Busch campus within walking distance to SHI Stadium, special pricing, a payment plan option, early access to season tickets and other Rutgers ticket offers throughout the year. Purchasing season tickets directly supports student-athletes. Visit Rutgers Football Ticket Central for more information.

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