Father of Gophers' Athan Kaliakmanis: Transfer decision not about 'mythical inbound QB'

"Trying very hard not to comment on a program that our family decided to cut ties with," began the father of Athan Kaliakmanis.

The Gophers targeting quarterbacks in the transfer portal is NOT the reason Athan Kaliakmanis has decided to enter the portal after two years at the University of Minnesota. 

On Tuesday, the 20-year-old quarterback announced his intention to enter the portal when it opens on Monday, meaning his time with the Gophers is over. Less than 24 hours after his son's announcement, Alex Kaliakmanis said Athan's reason for transferring has nothing to do with Minnesota looking for quarterbacks in the portal. 

"Trying very hard not to comment on a program that our family decided to cut ties with, but want to set the record straight and will start with this. Competition with a mythical inbound QB was absolutely not a factor in entering the transfer portal," Alex Kaliakmanis wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 

The mythical QB mentioned in the post is presumably New Hampshire quarterback Max Brosmer, who plans to enter the portal and has confirmed that he has received an offer from the Gophers after he led the FCS with 3,449 passing yards and was second with 29 touchdown passes. 

Alex Kaliakmanis saying he's "trying very hard not to comment" on the Gophers leaves the door open for speculation. Athan did not provide a reason for his decision to transfer, only expressing gratitude for coaches and fans in Minnesota. 

Thank you Minnesota ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MK2CsxGYYE

— Athan Kaliakmanis (@aajk_23) November 28, 2023

But according to Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press, head coach P.J. Fleck allegedly met with the quarterbacks after the loss to Wisconsin and "would not commit to a starting quarterback for the 2024 season and shared the program would look for competition via the transfer portal."

If the Gophers don't land Brosmer or another quarterback in the transfer portal, the 2024 QB battle will feature senior Cole Kramer, current walk-on freshman Max Shikenjanksi and incoming recruit Drake Lindsey, who has lit up Arkansas with 51 touchdowns and only two interceptions en route to the state title game this Saturday. 

A list of Gophers football players who have entered the transfer portal

Sep 16, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium.  / Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports