Rutgers football at Big Ten Media Days: Key takeaways

LAS VEGAS – Greg Schiano left no doubt.

The Rutgers football coach stood at the podium inside Mandalay Bay Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days and when he mentioned his starting quarterback, Schiano made sure everyone knew Athan Kaliakmanis’ standing in the locker room.

“He has become a leader of our program,” Schiano said. “This is definitely his football team.”

It’s been quite a ride for Kaliakmanis since joining the Scarlet Knights about a year and a half ago.

Kaliakmanis transferred from Minnesota to reunite with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. He was thrust into a battle for Rutgers’ starting quarterback job with Gavin Wimsatt, ultimately won it and later put together a productive first season in a Scarlet Knights uniform.

In that time Kaliakmanis earned the clear respect of his teammates – not always easy for a transfer, especially one who was battling with a well-liked player in Wimsatt, who entered the transfer portal after losing the competition.

Looking back at those early days Tuesday, Kaliakmanis acknowledged the initial adjustment wasn’t always easy.

“It was extremely difficult for me,” Kaliakmanis said. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. But it all worked out. I’m grateful that it did. But it was definitely difficult.”

Kaliakmanis last season completed 213 of his 395 pass attempts (53.9 percent) for 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led an offense that averaged 28.9 points per game, Rutgers’ best mark since 2008.

Along the way he became an unquestioned leader in the locker room.

How did he reach that point?

“My words met my actions,” Kaliakmanis said. “I took that very seriously. Something Coach Ciarrocca and I talked about. I showed up every day, I never took a day off. I came here every day and I still am – the season’s not over. I come and I’m ready to go. There’s no days off for me. I’m not coming in there going through the motions.”

Kaliakmanis sees the same level of work ethic from his teammates.

The QB has set the tone.

“All the other guys are doing it too,” Kaliakmanis said. “That’s why I’m so proud of this team. We’re working really hard. We’re all excited for camp.”

Dariel Djabome ready to build off breakout season

Djabome was a relatively under-the-radar linebacker when last season began.

Then the Canada native put together a breakout season, finishing with a team-leading 105 tackles (7.5 for loss) with 3.5 sacks.

It was a big year in his first season as a starter.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Djabome became one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten.

Under the radar, no more.

The fact that he was one of three players representing the Scarlet Knights at Big Ten Media Days says a lot on its own.

“Now that I’m people know a little bit more about me,” Djabome said. “It doesn’t change a bit for me. I still have the same goal. It’s unfinished business. I’m at Rutgers for only one reason – to help my team win games. I just feel like if I give the best version of myself we’re going to have a great chance to have the best season possible.”

Rutgers’ defense has undergone plenty of changes since last season, starting at the top with the departure of former coordinator Joe Harasymiak, now the head coach at UMass. Robb Smith and Zach Sparber are now co-defensive coordinators.

The Scarlet Knights also lost several key pieces, including linebacker Tyreem Powell, cornerback Robert Longerbeam, defensive end Wesley Bailey and linebacker Mohamed Toure, who transferred to Miami.

But Rutgers added talent, too, bringing in defensive ends Eric O’Neill and Bradley Weaver, safety Jett Elad and defensive tackle Doug Blue-Eli, among others.

“I think we could be elite on defense,” Djabome said. “The guys are buying in. It’s hard at times, there were a lot of changes, with the coaches, even the players, the roster. But I feel like what we have right now, everybody is buying in and everybody wants to see improvement and everybody’s trying to figure it out.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: Big Ten Media Day takeaways