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Commanders pick ex-Rutgers football QB Athan Kaliakmanis in NFL Draft
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- Commanders pick ex-Rutgers football QB Athan Kaliakmanis in NFL Draft
Athan Kaliakmanis is headed to the NFL.
The former Rutgers football quarterback, who helped revitalize the offense in his two seasons in a Scarlet Knights uniform after transferring from Minnesota , was selected in the seventh round by the Washington Commanders on April 25.
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The selection of Kaliakmanis, the 223rd overall pick, made it five straight years that Rutgers has had at least one NFL Draft pick. That matches a record the program set from 1981-85.
The signal-caller made multiple visits to NFL teams throughout the pre-draft process, getting the chance to showcase how he could play at the next level.
Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) shakes hands before an NCAA game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Kaliakmanis, joining Mike McMahon and Mike Teel as the only quarterbacks to be drafted out of Rutgers, made a solid impression while in Piscataway.
He started 25 games with the Scarlet Knights . The Illinois native left his mark on the program's record books, leaving seventh in career passing yards (5,820), completions (442), passing touchdowns (38) and total offense (6,405).
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Kaliakmanis became the first Rutgers quarterback to have back-to-back 2,500 passing yard seasons since 2007-08, and was one of only three quarterbacks in the program's history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers football QB Athan Kaliakmanis picked in 7th round of NFL Draft
