The Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ Junior Quarterback and former 4-Star recruit, Gavin Wimsatt, entered the Transfer Portal on May 1, 2024. The former 4-Star recruit stands at 6’3”, 225. After just six days of sitting in the portal Wimsatt is heading home. The Kentucky native grew up and played high school ball at Owensboro HS. Wimsatt will now move roughly 3 hours East of Owensboro to play for the Wildcats in Lexington.
Wimsatt has been a key piece in the Scarlet Knights’ QB room for a few years now. Wimsatt split starts in 2022 as a Sophomore, but took over as their undisputed QB1 as a Junior in 2023. Wimsatt was not only QB1, but was named a team captain. Wimsatt was highly thought of by Schiano and staff. Unfortunately, the writing was more or less on the wall for Wimsatt on January 2.
Enter Athan Kaliakmanis, who has been Minnesota Golden Gophers starter the last couple seasons. Kaliakmanis has 17 career starts for Minnesota in which he was 8-9. In 2023, he went 156/294(53.1%) for 1,838 yards, 14 TDs, and 9 INTs. He also added 94 yards and 2 TDs on 74 carries. Kaliakmanis was named the Scarlet Knights’ QB1 on May 1, the same day Wimsatt entered the Portal. Although Kaliakmanis should add more efficiency to the passing attack, the rushing game is going to take a major hit as Wimsatt ran for 497 yards and 11 TDs in 2023.
Upon a quick look at some Rutgers film these are a few thoughts about Wimsatt: He has an impressive size/athleticism combination. He has a pretty good arm, but his accuracy is all over the place. His motion speed carries. He also drifts back in the face of pressure. Wimsatt is an upside project not necessarily someone who’s ready to go.
On top of his spotty accuracy, highlighted by his 47.8% completion in 2023, Wimsatt was also working with everything against him. Rutgers OC Kirk Ciarrocca was actually the OC at Minnesota in 2022, before coming to Rutgers in 2023. Ciarrocca and his offense helped lead Minnesota to a 9-4 record, including a Pinstripe Bowl win. He also recruited Kaliakmanis to Minnesota out of HS, and coached him in 2022.
As we mentioned earlier, Wimsatt is actually from Kentucky, so that mixed with the fact that the Wildcats were one of his top schools during his recruitment probably led to him ending up there. Not to mention, the only real threat to the Wildcats QB1 spot is Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff, who hasn’t started a game since HS and has only thrown 21 passes as a 3 year backup at UGA. Vandagriff is also a former 4-Star recruit, so you know he’s talented, but Wimsatt must believe with his 1.5 years of game tape that he can at the very least compete with Vandagriff come the summer.