Late Tuesday evening, UNLV beginning quarterback Matt Sluka introduced on social media that he wouldn’t be taking part in for the Runnin’ Rebels anymore this season, an announcement that shook the faculty soccer panorama.
Sluka transferred to UNLV final offseason from FCS Holy Cross. The New York native has one 12 months of eligibility remaining, which is an enormous cause why he’s leaving UNLV now as a substitute of on the finish of the season. If soccer gamers play in 4 video games or much less in a season, they’ll protect that 12 months of eligibility through redshirt.
Right here’s a part of what Sluka mentioned in his assertion:
“I dedicated to UNLV primarily based on sure representations that had been made to me, which weren’t upheld after I enrolled. Regardless of discussions, it grew to become clear that these commitments wouldn’t be fulfilled sooner or later.”
Studying between the strains, that definitely seems like somebody at UNLV promised Sluka a bag of NIL cash, which didn’t arrive in a passable time.
And in accordance with a lot of the reporting on Wednesday morning, it seems like that’s precisely what occurred.
Right here’s what we all know:
What was Matt Sluka promised?
In accordance with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Sluka was “verbally promised a minimal of $100,000 from a UNLV assistant coach,” and in accordance with Sluka’s agent, these checks by no means hit. And so, Sluka and his agent began contemplating different choices to protect his eligibility and receives a commission.
The one cash Sluka has acquired from UNLV, per Cromartie, is a $3,000 re-location stipend for his transfer. Cromartie mentioned there was by no means an ask for extra money after UNLV’s sizzling begin, solely the preliminary quantity he was promised up entrance.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 25, 2024
And in accordance with ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Sluka by no means requested for extra cash or a increase, simply what he was initially promised.
“They hold deferring, ‘We do not know. You must wait,'” Bob Sluka advised me. “Then it was like, ‘We will give him sport checks.’ So we’re like, ‘OK, nice.’ We didn’t ask for a single greenback [more].”
Sluka added that Matt’s dwelling bills weren’t even coated. https://t.co/Dsl5EbGW7v
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 25, 2024
Paloma Villicana, a neighborhood Fox Sports activities reporter in Las Vegas, additionally reported that Sluka has already been supplied extra money by one other staff.
Per supply, UNLV QB Matt Sluka has been approached with extra money to switch.
— Paloma Villicana (@PalomaFOX5News) September 25, 2024
Who’s Matt Sluka?
Earlier than coming to UNLV, Sluka performed 4 seasons at Holy Cross the place he was the Patriot League Rookie of the 12 months in 2020, an All-Patriot League choice from 2021 by way of 2023, and the convention’s Offensive Participant of the 12 months final season. Holy Cross had a few of its greatest seasons ever with Sluka under-center, going 12-1 in 2022 with a win over FBS Buffalo, and a 7-4 mark final season as co-conference champions.
Former Holy Cross coach Bob Chesney parlayed that success right into a transfer into FBS, taking the top coach gig at James Madison, and Sluka grew to become a sought-after switch in the marketplace.
Sluka has definitely been an enormous cause why UNLV is off to a 3-0 begin this season with wins over Houston and Kansas – placing them in an early place to doubtlessly win the Mountain West and seize the Group of 5 playoff bid – however he isn’t some all-world irreplaceable expertise.
His worth for UNLV is de facto as a runner, the place he’s piled up 253 yards and a landing on 39 carries this season. As a passer, he’s been common at greatest, finishing 43.8 p.c of his passes this season for 318 yards and 6 touchdowns.
With Sluka out of the image, UNLV will seemingly flip to a different switch quarterback from the FCS ranks on their roster in Hajj-Malik Williams, who rushed for 1,600 yards and 24 touchdowns whereas throwing for 8,236 yards and 58 touchdowns throughout components of 5 seasons for Campbell. Final season for the Camels, he set career-highs in in yards (school-record 2,597), completions (231), makes an attempt (328), touchdowns (19) and completion share (70.0).
Has this occurred earlier than in school soccer?
Form of.
The closest instance – and it’s not precisely an identical – befell simply final fall, when MJ Morris, then the quarterback for N.C. State, benched himself to protect his redshirt season. Then a sophomore, the plan initially for Morris was to redshirt for the entire season, however he was thrust into motion to interchange Brennan Armstrong and assist salvage N.C. State’s season.
After going 3-1 as a starter and serving to the Wolfpack obtain bowl eligibility, Morris benched himself with three regular-season video games remaining, together with ones towards rivals Wake Forest and North Carolina.
With out Morris within the lineup, N.C. State completed the common season with three consecutive wins in any case. Like Sluka, Morris was a wonderful quarterback, however not thought to be among the finest in his personal convention. Morris accomplished 55.8 p.c of his throws final season for N.C. State for 719 yards, seven touchdowns and 5 picks whereas dashing for an unnoteworthy 15 yards.
Morris didn’t enter the switch portal instantly, however he did when the season ended and wound up at Maryland, the place he didn’t win the beginning job in preseason camp.
Maybe the perfect breakdown of Morris’ state of affairs at N.C. State is right here, from Joe Ovies and Joe Giglio:
This most likely isn’t the final time we see a state of affairs akin to Sluka’s or Morris’ play out in school soccer as gamers receive extra company and motion with the mix of NIL and the switch portal.
