UNLV head coach Barry Odom reads statement on Matthew Sluka departure, NIL controversy

After UNLV’s first game following the unfolding of the Matthew Sluka drama — a beatdown of conference rival Fresno State — Runnin’ Rebels head coach Barry Odom addressed the situation for the first time publicly.

And he did so by reading from a prepared statement. Odom said it would be his only comments on the matter.

“I’ll comment briefly on the recent departure of one of our players from the team. The following will be my only comments on the matter,” Odom said, according to ESPN’s Max Olson. “Many have expressed very strong opinions about the events of last week without full knowledge of the facts, without full knowledge of the events of last week and without full knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, evolving NIL system. And regrettably, some have even used this circumstance as a platform for their own agendas. I respect everyone’s right to an opinion, and I won’t comment on others’ opinions or their motivations for expressing them. Rather, I’ll say only that our football program complied with applicable rules and, subject to those rules, we’re fully committed to the development and the success of every student-athlete in our program.”

Sluka sent shockwaves through college football on Wednesday when news broke that he would leave the team as “representations” about the NIL money he would earn were not as promised. Now, there is some clarity on what Sluka was apparently supposed to be making while playing for the Runnin’ Rebels.

Sluka was promised “a minimum” of $100,000, Sluka’s NIL representative, Equity Sports’ Marcus Cromartie, confirmed to On3’s Pete Nakos. To date, per Cromartie, Sluka only got $3000 to relocate to Las Vegas.

Sluka previous played at Holy Cross in Massachusetts, and is from New York.

“During Matt’s recruitment, we talked about a number north of $100,000, to $150,000,” Cromartie told On3. “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.”

Following the game, wide receiver Ricky White III called for the $100,000 offered to Sluka by Circa executives to be given to the offensive line. They were the ones opening up lanes for UNLV to run in and ultimately get a comfortable win to extend the record to 4-0.

“I would ask that somebody reach out to the Circa CEO and ask him, with that $100,000 that he wanted to donate, give it to our O-line please,” White said via ESPN’s Max Olson.

UNLV has an offensive line filled with experience, with all five starters being upperclassmen. Three of them are transfers as well, beginning their college career elsewhere.