University of Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week today after his performance on Saturday at Wisconsin.
Kaliakmanis led the Gophers to a 23-16 border battle win against the Badgers and set career highs in completions (19), attempts (29), yards (319) and touchdowns (2). He completed nine passes of 15 yards or more and averaged 16.8 yards per completion, as Minnesota rallied from a 16-13 fourth-quarter deficit to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
The Kaliakmanis-led offense finished with 416 yards of total offense (319 passing and 97 rushing), which was the most yards for the Gophers against the Badgers since racking up 501 yards in 2007. Minnesota’s 319 passing yards was its second-highest total this season (372 vs Western Illinois), the second-most against Wisconsin since 2000 (352 in 2007) and the second-most allowed by the Badgers (320 vs Purdue) this year.
Kaliakmanis is the first Gopher to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Justin Walley received the honor on Nov. 29, 2021. He is the first Minnesota quarterback to be feted since Tanner Morgan earned the weekly honor on Oct. 29, 2018.
Kaliakmanis led the Gophers to a 23-16 border battle win against the Badgers and set career highs in completions (19), attempts (29), yards (319) and touchdowns (2). He completed nine passes of 15 yards or more and averaged 16.8 yards per completion, as Minnesota rallied from a 16-13 fourth-quarter deficit to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
The Kaliakmanis-led offense finished with 416 yards of total offense (319 passing and 97 rushing), which was the most yards for the Gophers against the Badgers since racking up 501 yards in 2007. Minnesota’s 319 passing yards was its second-highest total this season (372 vs Western Illinois), the second-most against Wisconsin since 2000 (352 in 2007) and the second-most allowed by the Badgers (320 vs Purdue) this year.
Kaliakmanis is the first Gopher to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Justin Walley received the honor on Nov. 29, 2021. He is the first Minnesota quarterback to be feted since Tanner Morgan earned the weekly honor on Oct. 29, 2018.
