Former Holy Cross QB Matthew Sluka says he won’t play for 3-0 UNLV, citing unkept agreement
LAS VEGAS — UNLV |A|
quarterback Matthew Sluka, a |B|
transfer who has led |C|
the Rebels to a |D|
3-0 start, announced on |E|
social media Tuesday night |F|
he will not play |G|
in any more games |H|
this season, alluding to |J|
an unkept agreement struck |K|
during his recruitment to |L|
the school. NCAA redshirt rules |M|
allow players to retain |O|
a year of eligibility |P|
if they play four |Q|
or fewer games in |R|
a season. Sluka, who |S|
played four seasons (2020-23) |U|
at Holy Cross before |V|
transferring to UNLV this |Y|
past offseason, still has |Z|
one more year of |A|
eligibility that he could |B|
use at another school |C|
next season. NCAA rules do |D|
not allow players to |E|
play for two schools |F|
within the same season. Sluka |G|
did not detail the |H|
reasons behind his decision, |J|
but college athletes are |K|
now routinely being paid |L|
for their name, image |M|
and likeness by companies |O|
or third-party organizations called |P|
collectives, which serve a |Q|
particular school's athletes. “I committed |R|
to UNLV based on |S|
certain representations that were |U|
made to me, which |V|
were not upheld after |Y|
I enrolled," Sluka posted |Z|
on X. "Despite discussions, |A|
it became clear that |B|
these commitments would not |C|
be fulfilled in the |D|
future. I wish my |E|
teammates the best of |F|
luck this season and |G|
hope for the continued |H|
success of the program.” The |J|
senior has completed 21 |K|
of 48 passes for |L|
318 yards, six touchdowns |M|
and one interception for |O|
the Rebels this season. |P|
He has also rushed |Q|
39 times for 286 |R|
yards and a touchdown. In |S|
a 23-20 win over |U|
Kansas on Sept. 13, |V|
Sluka led the Rebels |Y|
on an 18-play, 75-yard |Z|
drive that ended with |A|
Kylin James scoring on |B|
fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard |C|
line with 1:51 left. |D|
Sluka rushed for 113 |E|
yards in the game. The |F|
Rebels also began the |G|
season with a victory |H|
against Houston, making them |J|
2-0 against Big 12 |K|
teams and raising hopes |L|
they could contend for |M|
a spot in the |O|
newly expanded 12-team College |P|
Football Playoff. UNLV is scheduled |Q|
to host Fresno State |R|
(3-1, 1-0) in its |S|
Mountain West opener Saturday. UNLV |U|
went 9-5 last season |V|
and played for the |Y|
Mountain West conference championship, |Z|
but the quarterback who |A|
led that team to |B|
the program's best season |C|
in nearly 40 years, |D|
Jayden Maiava, transferred to |E|
Southern California of the |F|
Big Ten. Sluka was one |G|
of the top quarterbacks |H|
playing in Division I's |J|
second tier, known as |K|
the Football Championship Subdivision. |L|
Holy Cross reached the |M|
FCS playoffs in 2021 |O|
and '22 with Sluka |P|
as the starter. After a |Q|
coaching change at Holy |R|
Cross — head coach |S|
Bob Chesney left to |U|
take over at James |V|
Madison — Sluka also |Y|
moved on. He left as |Z|
one of the best |A|
players in the history |B|
of the program. He |C|
is first in career |D|
pass efficiency (147.4), second |E|
in career rushing yards |F|
(3,583), second in career |G|
rushing touchdowns (38), fifth |H|
in career passing yards |J|
(5,916) and fifth in |K|
career passing touchdowns (59). He |L|
rushed for an NCAA |M|
Division I quarterback record |O|
330 yards in a |P|
loss to Lafayette in |Q|
2023.
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