Article on RU QBs

[MADHAT1]

My opinion
Kaliakmanis' completion percentage worries me , but he is the type of game manager Schiano likes and Athan passed for more yards than any RU QB did in 10 years. I just feel for Rutgers to have a winning season,AK must prove to be better than he was last season when it comes to accuracy . ( Though the recivers have to do thir part getting open and catching what he throws for him to look good)
Sheppard and Surace both need playing time, this season, to find out if they have a future in the program .
Incoming freshman Sean Ashenfelder might be someone who develops into Kaliakmanis' replacement if Ajani or AJ don't step up
>It is officially springtime, and spring training for the Rutgers football team is underway. In the first edition of Future of Rutgers football, The Daily Targum previews the 2025 quarterback room.<
https://rdt-dev.getsnworks.com/arti...medium=email&utm_term=0_-19c8aaba24-257021021

 

[ScarletDog]

Watch out for Surace. While AK performed better in the latter part of the season (not coincidentally after the offense was opened up a bit), AJ is the real deal. He will pass AS and will push AK. Not sure if he will be able to surpass AK, but will provide us with very high quality backup and finally put us in a situation where we have true competition and the ability to stick to the game plan if our starter goes down. I’m excited to see how he’s coming along.

 

[RUGuitarMan]

I think the key to AK having a better season will be the continued development of the WRs and OL. As that improved last season, AK’s performance improved. There is a solid returning core at OL, WR and RB. If they can replace the LT and the transfer WR is a difference maker, the offense should be better (barring key injuries). AK now has a good amount of experience playing in B1G conference games which should be a big help . How much the defense can be improved is the key component to a possible winning season.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

I think the key to AK having a better season will be the continued development of the WRs and OL. As that improved last season, AK’s performance improved. There is a solid returning core at OL, WR and RB. If they can replace the LT and the transfer WR is a difference maker, the offense should be better (barring key injuries). AK now has a good amount of experience playing in B1G conference games which should be a big help . How much the defense can be improved is the key component to a possible winning season.

The receivers improving will be a big help. Can’t find the full season data but through ten games they were amongst the worst in cfb at dropping catchable passes
“Based on available data, his receivers have dropped 21 on-target passes through 10 games, according to ProFootballFocus. This figure ties Rutgers for the 11th-most drops nationally among quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts, with a drop rate of 11.1%, which is tied for the fifth-highest among that group. College football analyst Parker Fleming estimated that these drops cost Kaliakmanis 226 potential passing yards in games against FBS opponents, ranking 11th nationally in lost yardage due to drops.”

 

[MCRU93]

I mean absolutely 0 offense when I say this but if Ajani starts meaningful minutes this year we are in trouble. Even Surace, no need to force him into gameplay if AK is healthy. Garbage time, hell yeah go for it. He was banged up last year though so let him continue to learn and develop at his own pace.

AK was solid last year and base completion % only tells part of the story. I'll try to find it but there was a stat towards the end of the season with AK being in the top 10 for QBs that lost passing yards due to receiver drops. His adjusted completion % was better.

 

[WhiteBus]

if Ajani or AJ don't step up

Huh?? How are they able to step up when they don't see the field? Neither threw a pass last season. I commented when Gavin got nearly all the time in his absolutely awful last season the NIL is the reason. GS doesn't want to piss off the donor so nobody gets any real time on the field.
I agree with @ScarletDog (of course I do. I had the best Tailgate dog ever, named Scarlet. )
that Surace maybe the best QB in the room.
He and Sheppard should get serious mop up time next season. Big limitations sitting and watching from the bench.

 

[MADHAT1]

Huh?? How are they able to step up when they don't see the field? Neither threw a pass last season. I commented when Gavin got nearly all the time in his absolutely awful last season the NIL is the reason. GS doesn't want to piss off the donor so nobody gets any real time on the field.
I agree with @ScarletDog (of course I do. I had the best Tailgate dog ever, named Scarlet. )
that Surace maybe the best QB in the room.
He and Sheppard should get serious mop up time next season. Big limitations sitting and watching from the bench.

I posted
>Sheppard and Surace both need playing time, this season, to find out if they have a future in the program .
Incoming freshman Sean Ashenfelder might be someone who develops into Kaliakmanis' replacement if Ajani or AJ don't step up<
meaning they need to show something that makes them the one, after AK leaves.
Mop up time this season or in 2026 spring practice , Ajani or AJ must prove worthy or watch Sean or a portal pick-up become the starter
Having potential gives Surace a chance, but that doesn't guarantee him the job .
As for Gavin , as bad as he was, RU didn't have anyone better on the roster until AK was picked up from the portal and Wimsatt wasn't the best RU had to put in.

 

[rudad02]

I like Sheppard.

 

[ScarletDog]

The receivers improving will be a big help. Can’t find the full season data but through ten games they were amongst the worst in cfb at dropping catchable passes
“Based on available data, his receivers have dropped 21 on-target passes through 10 games, according to ProFootballFocus. This figure ties Rutgers for the 11th-most drops nationally among quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts, with a drop rate of 11.1%, which is tied for the fifth-highest among that group. College football analyst Parker Fleming estimated that these drops cost Kaliakmanis 226 potential passing yards in games against FBS opponents, ranking 11th nationally in lost yardage due to drops.”

Interesting thing to note (if I am not misremembering) is that AK had a high drop rate at Minn as well. Makes you wonder if he throws balls that are technically catchable, but less easy to catch. Is it touch or angles or trajectory or something else? Don’t know but there seems to be a pattern across two teams.

 

[WhiteBus]

L

I posted
>If Ajani or AJ don't step up<
meaning they need to show something that makes them the one, after AK leaves.
Mop up time this season or in 2026 spring practice , Ajani or AJ must prove worthy or watch Sean or a portal pick-up become the starter
Having potential gives Surace a chance, but that doesn't guarantee him the job .
As for Gavin , as bad as he was, RU didn't have anyone better on the roster until AK was picked up from the portal and Wimsatt wasn't the best RU had to put in.

I guess you missed my point that they can't step up sitting on the bench. You make it sound it's the players fault.
As for your love for Gavin, a dead cat could throw better than he could. Simon and Sheppard should have played that year because as QBs they could actually throw the ball long and short!

 

[MADHAT1]

L

I guess you missed my point that they can't step up sitting on the bench. You make it sound it's the players fault.
As for your love for Gavin, a dead cat could throw better than he could. Simon and Sheppard should have played that year because as QBs they could actually throw the ball long and short!

I think Gavin was overrated and would have been better served playing for a mid major program .
But at Rutgers Simon was his competition and Evan didn't give Rutgers a better chance to win, even if he was a better passer. Wimsatt was better at being the QB when it came to giving RU a chance to win because of his legs
As for missing your point, I said both "Sheppard and Surace both need playing time, this season, to find out if they have a future in the program ." So if they sit on the bench again , 2026 spring practice is when one of them needs to step up and seize the starter's spot
Unless AK needs rest for any reason I don't see either of them getting meaningful playing time in 2025

 

[WhiteBus]

I think Gavin was overrated and would have been better served playing for a mid major program .
But at Rutgers Simon was his competition and Evan didn't give Rutgers a better chance to win, even if he was a better passer. Wimsatt was better at being the QB when it came to giving RU a chance to win because of his legs
As for missing your point, I said both "Sheppard and Surace both need playing time, this season, to find out if they have a future in the program ." So if they sit on the bench again , 2026 spring practice is when one of them needs to step up and seize the starter's spot
Unless AK needs rest for any reason I don't see either of them getting meaningful playing time in 2025

I agree with all of that except your choice of disparaging Surace and Sheppard in your post earlier as needed they needed "to step up" They can't step up if they don't see they field. Why do you blame it on them??

 

[MADHAT1]

I agree with all of that except your choice of disparaging Surace and Sheppard in your post earlier as needed they needed "to step up" They can't step up if they don't see they field. Why do you blame it on them??

not blaming a thing on them, I consider when they get a chance is when they need to step up and seize the moment .Agree with you that they haven't had that chance in a game yet and I feel the only real chance they will have is during 2026 spring practice unless something happens that forces one of them to be the man in 2025

 

[WhiteBus]

not blaming a thing on them, I consider when they get a chance is when they need to step up and seize the moment .Agree with you that they haven't had that chance in a game yet and I feel the only real chance they will have is during 2026 spring practice unless something happens that forces one of them to be the man in 2025

I just hated your choice of "they need to step up"
Schiano needs to let them play. But it seems like NIL money is making the decisions.

 

[koleszar]

My opinion
Kaliakmanis' completion percentage worries me , but he is the type of game manager Schiano likes and Athan passed for more yards than any RU QB did in 10 years. I just feel for Rutgers to have a winning season,AK must prove to be better than he was last season when it comes to accuracy . ( Though the recivers have to do thir part getting open and catching what he throws for him to look good)
Sheppard and Surace both need playing time, this season, to find out if they have a future in the program .
Incoming freshman Sean Ashenfelder might be someone who develops into Kaliakmanis' replacement if Ajani or AJ don't step up
>It is officially springtime, and spring training for the Rutgers football team is underway. In the first edition of Future of Rutgers football, The Daily Targum previews the 2025 quarterback room.<
https://rdt-dev.getsnworks.com/arti...medium=email&utm_term=0_-19c8aaba24-257021021

Surace is a multi-year starter. The staff is in love with what they see from him. He has all the tools, it's just getting the mental aspect and speed of the game down from practice and repetition. From all reports Surace is the real deal and no need to rush him with Athan currently at the helm. Surace will be getting mop up duty reps this year.

 

[WhiteBus]

Surace is a multi-year starter. The staff is in love with what they see from him. He has all the tools, it's just getting the mental aspect down from practice and repetition. From all reports Surace is the real deal and no need to rush him with Athan currently at the helm.

Surace sat last year, red shirt. Why does he still have to sit on the bench?

 

[koleszar]

Surace sat last year, red shirt. Why does he still have to sit on the bench?

Because Athan has the trust of the staff and full command of the offense. Surace also missed some development time last year do to injury. You're not going to throw a redhsirt freshman in when you have a competent graduate senior to lead your team.

 

[WhiteBus]

Because Athan has the trust of the staff and full command of the offense. Surace also missed some development time last year do to injury. You're not going to throw a redhsirt freshman in when you have a competent graduate senior to lead your team.

Please go back and tell me how many passes and plays the backup played!

 

[koleszar]

Please go back and tell me how many passes and plays the backup played!

I'm not following? Last Year you had a brand new starter and his 1st year in the program. He needed as many in game reps as possible with his new receivers and getting back with his old OC in a new environment. I would say that paid off by seasons end as Athan and his receivers became much better and connected. You wanted those game reps wasted on a career backup in Sheppard (I think he could push for time at a G5)? Surace missed a lot of time with injury so he wasn't going to get any.

 

[ashokan]

Kaliakmanis has good accuracy when he isn't forcing plays in a panic. He can become a bit of a chucker when frantic . His best pass isn't the sideline safety passes coaches can overuse. Defenses know what's coming pretty much and AK can over-throw if DB is tight .

I haven't seen Surace much and don't rely on practice reports or mechanics. Some legit playmakers have sketchy mechanics. I'll take a playmaker over a showhorse. Eli Manning could be a dog throwing but he could make the big plays when he has the horses. I know Sheppard was a playmaker type at Iona. As of now I have no preference.

I like QBs with smarts because it a big part of QB play. The best ones "see things" on film and in games. Less of that in college than pros but really good ones can adapt to defense on the fly.

Tom Brady recently spoke about QB smarts and its on the mark:

"I loved being involved in the game plan, I loved designing plays, I loved designing schemes for our teams. I'd go in there with a list of ideas of all the things I wanted to do," Brady said. "And I really got the nuances of the game, and 'OK, it's Cover 1, it's man-to-man, how can I design plays to beat man-to-man and work with my coaches and work with the great minds that I've been around to develop a f---ing game plan that would kill it every single game?' And those game plans were Picassos, you know? We'd get ready for the game and we'd be like, 'They have no f---ing chance of stopping us with this plan.' So today I feel like the quarterback just shows up, and they go, 'What do you want me to do, coach?' And it's, we've dumbed the game down and it's more checkers now than it used to be chess."

Passionate Tom Brady believes QB play has been "dumbed down," NFL's rule changes have gone too far

Tom Brady continues to show sneak previews of what he'll be as a professional football analyst. And the man has got some things to say.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

I think the key to AK having a better season will be the continued development of the WRs and OL. As that improved last season, AK’s performance improved. There is a solid returning core at OL, WR and RB. If they can replace the LT and the transfer WR is a difference maker, the offense should be better (barring key injuries). AK now has a good amount of experience playing in B1G conference games which should be a big help . How much the defense can be improved is the key component to a possible winning season.

Correct, as the freshman WRs got much better and Strong returned from the injury that had him limited for a few games midseason, Athan's overall performance improved. Finding a LT is going to be hard, the spring portal is usually not a good time for filling that type of need. Even if there were someone of quality, the NIL bidding will be fierce and that usually rules RU out. Unfortunately that could be the key to the season on offense.

 

[vkj91]

I like Sheppard.

He’s not accurate enough.

 

[RU#1fan]

He’s not accurate enough.

Based on what ?

 

[vkj91]

Based on what ?

Watching him throw live a number times. Including today

 

[yesrutgers01]

Watch for AK to have one of our best QB years ever. His % was low and may still end up under 60% but- the development of 2 potential NFL WR prospects opens up an underrated part of his game.
He is the best football IQ QB we have had here since Noah Vadrel but a better runner and passer.
Dude can actually run the ball. And he does attack with a long ball better than anyone since Nova and he has better WRs.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Watching him throw live a number times. Including today

Well that’s a bummer. Did you happen to see Athan throw?

 

[vkj91]

Well that’s a bummer. Did you happen to see Athan throw?

No. He looks great physically, has some real zip on his ball. Also, every time I’ve seen him he’s with kids he doesn’t usually throw to so timing is obviously off. But in my humble opinion, a Big Ten QB should look pretty damn perfect throwing on air.

 

[rudad02]

Surace is a multi-year starter. The staff is in love with what they see from him. He has all the tools, it's just getting the mental aspect and speed of the game down from practice and repetition. From all reports Surace is the real deal and no need to rush him with Athan currently at the helm. Surace will be getting mop up duty reps this year.

If that's the case & I were Sheppard, never having been given a fair chance, I'd be outta here.

 

[vkj91]

If that's the case & I were Sheppard, never having been given a fair chance, I'd be outta here.

Isn’t gone he’s gone after spring. No Inside info but if he’s clearly number 3……

 

[WhiteBus]

I'm not following? Last Year you had a brand new starter and his 1st year in the program. He needed as many in game reps as possible with his new receivers and getting back with his old OC in a new environment. I would say that paid off by seasons end as Athan and his receivers became much better and connected. You wanted those game reps wasted on a career backup in Sheppard (I think he could push for time at a G5)? Surace missed a lot of time with injury so he wasn't going to get any.

Surace wasn't the backup. Not letting the backup on the field because the starter has a NIL deal and the person paying that money wanting AK to play nearly every snap is stupid. The same crap why Gavin played when it was apparent that he was a terrible QB. Money rules these days.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

If that's the case & I were Sheppard, never having been given a fair chance, I'd be outta here.

You guys with this never been given a fair chance nonsense. You EARN it, it's not GIVEN.

 

[DJ Spanky]

What a well researched article.

Freshman quarterback AJ Surace heads into his sophomore year with his role and situation unknown. Surace did not make any in-game appearances last season, but this much was expected from the 2024 three-star recruit.

Surace, the son of Princeton head football coach Bob Surace, is a young, developing player for the Knights with underrated athleticism, gifted mechanics and a high football IQ. While Surace is not quite ready for Big Ten football yet, he is a player in development who could very well start in the future for Rutgers and could reach a ceiling this season as Kaliakmanis' backup.

I guess they completely missed the fact he was injured last year.

 

[PaKnight]

My opinion
Kaliakmanis' completion percentage worries me , but he is the type of game manager Schiano likes and Athan passed for more yards than any RU QB did in 10 years. I just feel for Rutgers to have a winning season,AK must prove to be better than he was last season when it comes to accuracy . ( Though the recivers have to do thir part getting open and catching what he throws for him to look good)
Sheppard and Surace both need playing time, this season, to find out if they have a future in the program .
Incoming freshman Sean Ashenfelder might be someone who develops into Kaliakmanis' replacement if Ajani or AJ don't step up
>It is officially springtime, and spring training for the Rutgers football team is underway. In the first edition of Future of Rutgers football, The Daily Targum previews the 2025 quarterback room.<
https://rdt-dev.getsnworks.com/arti...medium=email&utm_term=0_-19c8aaba24-257021021

If AK stays healthy neither guy will see any meaningful reps.

 

[newell138]

Huh? From the article..
“Kaliakmanis is not a bonafide athletic quarterback”

Have you seen his hurdle times? Also LJ over 20 feet in HS

 

[DHajekRC84]

If AK stays healthy neither guy will see any meaningful reps.

Exactly. We've all seen GS's QB usage and approach. He's not benching AK unless something really terrible happens to him nor do we run an offense that leads to big leads where he can play #2 for a quarter or even extended series.

 

[WhiteBus]

Exactly. We've all seen GS's QB usage and approach. He's not benching AK unless something really terrible happens to him nor do we run an offense that leads to big leads where he can play #2 for a quarter or even extended series.

There is a big difference between benching and garbage time. This is all about the NIL and the person who paid for it wanting to see who he is paying on the field all the time.

 

[RU#1fan]

Watching him throw live a number times. Including today

Meaningless if not in game situations.

 

[-RUFAN4LIFE-]

Meaningless if not in game situations.

In non game situations they should be hitting most of their passes. Accuracy issues in that situation are a red flag because you don't suddenly get more accurate in game situations.

 

[vkj91]

Meaningless if not in game situations.

If you can’t consistently hit guys on air how you gonna do it when they are blanketed.

 

[PaKnight]

Surace wasn't the backup. Not letting the backup on the field because the starter has a NIL deal and the person paying that money wanting AK to play nearly every snap is stupid. The same crap why Gavin played when it was apparent that he was a terrible QB. Money rules these days.

Or it is just a made up scenario. Greg has never been one to give backup QB’s significant reps. Gavin was our best QB.