Skip to main content

UNLV transfer QB Matthew Sluka signs with James Madison

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultzabout 14 hours

NickSchultz_7

Matthew Sluka
Matthew Sluka, via Jay Biggerstaff Imagn Images

UNLV transfer quarterback Matthew Sluka signed with James Madison, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. He entered the transfer portal after taking a redshirt this past season due to an NIL dispute with the Rebels.

Sluka started his college career at Holy Cross before making his way to UNLV. He was the Rebels’ starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2024 season, but opted to preserve a redshirt and left the team due to an NIL issue.

In his three games with UNLV, Sluka threw for 318 yards and six touchdowns while adding 253 rushing yards and a touchdown. That came after four years at Holy Cross, where he threw for 5,896 yards and 59 touchdowns in addition to his 3,579 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Sluka announced he was taking a redshirt after UNLV’s 3-0 start to the year due to representations that “were not upheld” after he enrolled. On3 confirmed Sluka was verbally promised a $100,000 NIL deal, but only received a $3,000 relocation fee.

Friends of UNILV – UNLV’s primary NIL collective – provided a statement to On3 about the matter. It confirmed there was no “formal” offer made.

“To clarify, there were no formal NIL offers made during Mr. Sluka’s recruitment process,” the collective said. “Additionally, Friends of UNILV did not finalize or agree to any NIL offers while he was part of the team, aside from a completed community engagement event over the summer.”

Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie of Equity Sports, told On3 the $100,000 was a “minimum” promise from the UNLV collective. Instead, Sluka only received $3,000 as a relocation fee.

“During Matt’s recruitment, we talked about a number north of $100,000, to $150,000,” Cromartie said. “This was a number that would be given to Matt to come there. We talked about if we could get to $150,000 that would be great, but $100,000 was the number.”

Matthew Sluka will now be getting ready for his sixth season of college football after preserving a redshirt and still having a COVID year. A New York native, he’ll now head to Harrisonburg, Va., to join a James Madison that’s coming off a 9-4 record in 2024.