UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka leaving team amid playoff push
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UNLV’s path to the Tuesday, as starting quarterback.
playoffs became more perilous Matthew Sluka announced he.
Tuesday, as starting quarterback is leaving the team.
Matthew Sluka announced he effective immediately. Sluka, a.
is leaving the team fifth-year senior, posted on.
effective immediately. Sluka, a fifth-year social media that he.
senior, posted on social intends to redshirt the.
media that he intends rest of the 2024.
to redshirt the rest season and preserve his.
of the 2024 season final year of eligibility:.
and preserve his final “I have decided to.
year of eligibility: “I have utilize my redshirt year.
decided to utilize my and will not be.
redshirt year and will playing in any additional.
not be playing in games this season,” Sluka.
any additional games this wrote. “I wish my.
season,” Sluka wrote. “I teammates the best of.
wish my teammates the luck this season and.
best of luck this hope for the continued.
season and hope for success of the program.”.
the continued success of The move comes just.
the program.” The move comes four days before UNLV.
just four days before is set to host.
UNLV is set to Fresno State at Allegiant.
host Fresno State at Stadium in the opening.
Allegiant Stadium in the game of Mountain West.
opening game of Mountain play. After winning a.
West play. After winning a protracted training camp battle,.
protracted training camp battle, Sluka started the first.
Sluka started the first three contests and helped.
three contests and helped UNLV to a 3-0.
UNLV to a 3-0 start, positioning the Scarlet.
start, positioning the Scarlet and Gray as legitimate.
and Gray as legitimate contenders for a College.
contenders for a College Football Playoff berth. Sluka.
Football Playoff berth. Sluka was especially impressive in.
was especially impressive in a 23-20 victory at.
a 23-20 victory at Kansas on Sept. 13,.
Kansas on Sept. 13, leading a game-winning drive.
leading a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter..
in the fourth quarter. Following Following the Kansas win,.
the Kansas win, UNLV UNLV entered the USA.
entered the USA Today Today Coaches Poll at.
Coaches Poll at No. No. 25, the first.
25, the first time time the program had.
the program had ever ever been ranked. On.
been ranked. On Sunday, Sunday, UNLV moved up.
UNLV moved up two two spots to No..
spots to No. 23. Sluka 23. Sluka transferred to.
transferred to UNLV from UNLV from Holy Cross,.
Holy Cross, where he where he amassed video-game.
amassed video-game numbers as numbers as a passer.
a passer and runner. and runner. Over the.
Over the first three first three games of.
games of the 2024 the 2024 campaign, he.
campaign, he completed 43.8% completed 43.8% of his.
of his passes for passes for 318 yards.
318 yards and six and six touchdowns; he.
touchdowns; he was more was more effective with.
effective with his legs, his legs, rushing for.
rushing for 253 yards 253 yards and a.
and a touchdown. Against Kansas, touchdown. Against Kansas, Sluka.
Sluka carried 19 times carried 19 times for.
for a team-high 124 a team-high 124 yards..
yards. With Sluka bailing, UNLV With Sluka bailing, UNLV.
will likely turn to will likely turn to.
No. 2 quarterback Hajj-Malik No. 2 quarterback Hajj-Malik.
Williams as the starter Williams as the starter.
against Fresno State. Williams against Fresno State. Williams.
pushed for the No. pushed for the No..
1 job throughout the 1 job throughout the.
offseason and looked sharp offseason and looked sharp.
in the spring game, in the spring game,.
where he completed 14-of-22 where he completed 14-of-22.
passes for 227 yards passes for 227 yards.
with three touchdowns and with three touchdowns and.
no interceptions. As a fifth-year no interceptions. As a.
senior, Sluka is eligible fifth-year senior, Sluka is.
to enter the portal eligible to enter the.
at any time and portal at any time.
is likely to have and is likely to.
multiple suitors vying for have multiple suitors vying.
his services. Players are for his services. Players.
allowed to appear in are allowed to appear.
up to four games in up to four.
in a season and games in a season.
still maintain redshirt status, and still maintain redshirt.
so Sluka will have status, so Sluka will.
one year of college have one year of.
eligibility remaining. In his post college eligibility remaining. In.
announcing his departure from his post announcing his.
UNLV, Sluka alluded to departure from UNLV, Sluka.
issues with NIL payments alluded to issues with.
as the reason for NIL payments as the.
his exit. “I committed to reason for his exit..
UNLV based on certain “I committed to UNLV.
representations that were made based on certain representations.
to me, which were that were made to.
not upheld after I me, which were not.
enrolled,” he wrote. “Despite upheld after I enrolled,”.
discussions, it became clear he wrote. “Despite discussions,.
that these commitments would it became clear that.
not be fulfilled in these commitments would not.
the future.”
