Gophers QB Athan Kaliakmanis named Big Ten co-freshman of the week

Making his fourth career start, the redshirt freshman completed 19 of 29 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns while leading a fourth-quarter comeback.

November 28, 2022 at 4:49PM
Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) throws a pass during the first half against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Madison, Wisconsin. (John Fisher/Getty Images/TNS) ORG XMIT: 64834051W
Athan Kaliakmanis released a pass during the Gophers’ 23-16 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday. (John Fisher, Tribune News Service/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was named Big Ten co-freshman of the week for his performance in a 23-16 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday.

Kaliakmanis, a redshirt freshman, completed 19 of 29 passes for a career-high 319 yards and two touchdowns at Camp Randall Stadium, rallying the Gophers from a 16-13 fourth-quarter deficit. He connected with Le'Meke Brockington on a slant for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 3:40 to play for the decisive points. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Kaliakmanis led a drive that ended in Matthew Trickett's 27-yard field goal that tied the score 16-16. The Antioch, Ill., native was especially sharp in the fourth quarter, going 7-for-9 for 142 yards.

Sharing the freshman honor with Kaliakmanis is Purdue running back Devin Mockobee, who had 158 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in a 30-16 win over Indiana that clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game for the Boilermakers.

The other weekly honorees were:

  • Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, offense: Rushed 22 times for 216 yards and two TDs in a 45-23 win over Ohio State.
  • Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown, defense: Scored touchdowns on a 53-yard fumble return and a 29-yard interception return and added a second interception in a 41-3 win over Northwestern.
  • Maryland kicker Chad Ryland, special teams: Kicked three field goals and four extra points in a 37-0 win over Rutgers.
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about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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