by Bill Seals
It’s been a busy start to the recruiting process for a high school quarterback that is only coming off his freshman season at the varsity level, as the prospect has added multiple Power-5 offers over the offseason.
Antioch (Ill.) rising sophomore Athan Kaliakmanis took an unofficial visit to Iowa State on June 15th and came away with one of those P5 offers.
“Coach (Matt) Campbell said I have great film and that backs everything up,” said Kaliakmanis. “It’s not about what you do at these camps, but more about what you do in a game and how you’re going to lead your team to a state championship. He said they were going to offer me a scholarship and I was like ‘wow because that’s a great school.’”
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Kaliakmanis, who also has P5 offers from Iowa, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, said he performed well in front of Cyclone staff members at the Mega and Lindenwood camps in the state of Missouri this summer.
His showing at those satellite camps spurred a visit invite to Ames, where he got a better feel for the I-State program.
“I met with Coach (Alex) Golesh and he introduced me to some of the coaching staff,” Kaliakmanis said. “I saw Coach (Joel) Gordon, the quarterbacks coach, and Coach Campbell. Coach Golesh showed us around the building, weight room, therapy rooms, the quarterback room and wide receiver room.
“I had a fun time. It’s a great coaching staff and I’m very excited I got to go there. I also got to see the campus and it was beautiful.”
The stop also included a conversation with Gordon, the first-year quarterbacks coach in Ames.
“We were talking about how the offseason has been going, what I’ve been doing and my interests,” Kaliakmanis said. “He offered me right on the spot. I was super-thankful, but he gave me some good advice and said not to get caught up in the hype. He’s a great guy to listen to. He’s got a great personality and we really got along well.”
As far as the Cyclones’ philosophy goes, the Class of 2021 recruit said he liked what he saw from incumbent starter Kyle Kempt.
“I grew up in a spread offense and they’ve got a great quarterback right now and are able to throw the ball a lot,” Kaliakmanis said. “Kyle Kempt is built more like I am, a big guy, that’s a very smart quarterback. He waited a long time and coach gave him a chance to shine. I could really see myself playing at Iowa State. I love the school and love the coaching staff.”
Although it won’t be in Ames, Kaliakmanis said he’s looking forward to attending the Cy-Hawk rivalry game in Iowa City this fall.
It’s been a busy start to the recruiting process for a high school quarterback that is only coming off his freshman season at the varsity level, as the prospect has added multiple Power-5 offers over the offseason.
Antioch (Ill.) rising sophomore Athan Kaliakmanis took an unofficial visit to Iowa State on June 15th and came away with one of those P5 offers.
“Coach (Matt) Campbell said I have great film and that backs everything up,” said Kaliakmanis. “It’s not about what you do at these camps, but more about what you do in a game and how you’re going to lead your team to a state championship. He said they were going to offer me a scholarship and I was like ‘wow because that’s a great school.’”
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Kaliakmanis, who also has P5 offers from Iowa, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, said he performed well in front of Cyclone staff members at the Mega and Lindenwood camps in the state of Missouri this summer.
His showing at those satellite camps spurred a visit invite to Ames, where he got a better feel for the I-State program.
“I met with Coach (Alex) Golesh and he introduced me to some of the coaching staff,” Kaliakmanis said. “I saw Coach (Joel) Gordon, the quarterbacks coach, and Coach Campbell. Coach Golesh showed us around the building, weight room, therapy rooms, the quarterback room and wide receiver room.
“I had a fun time. It’s a great coaching staff and I’m very excited I got to go there. I also got to see the campus and it was beautiful.”
The stop also included a conversation with Gordon, the first-year quarterbacks coach in Ames.
“We were talking about how the offseason has been going, what I’ve been doing and my interests,” Kaliakmanis said. “He offered me right on the spot. I was super-thankful, but he gave me some good advice and said not to get caught up in the hype. He’s a great guy to listen to. He’s got a great personality and we really got along well.”
As far as the Cyclones’ philosophy goes, the Class of 2021 recruit said he liked what he saw from incumbent starter Kyle Kempt.
“I grew up in a spread offense and they’ve got a great quarterback right now and are able to throw the ball a lot,” Kaliakmanis said. “Kyle Kempt is built more like I am, a big guy, that’s a very smart quarterback. He waited a long time and coach gave him a chance to shine. I could really see myself playing at Iowa State. I love the school and love the coaching staff.”
Although it won’t be in Ames, Kaliakmanis said he’s looking forward to attending the Cy-Hawk rivalry game in Iowa City this fall.
