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Father of UNLV QB Matthew Sluka reveals details of his son’s NIL spat with school
By Paul Harvey
Published:
The family of UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka and his representation is going public about the circumstances surrounding his move to enter the transfer portal.
Late Monday night, Sluka announced he was foregoing the rest of the 2024 season and utilizing a redshirt in spite of a 3-0 start for his team. The star for UNLV said the move revolved around an NIL dispute, and his father and agent have since shed some insight into the true nature of the dispute.
Early Tuesday morning, Carl Reed Jr. with 247 Sports reported a source claiming Sluka’s family hired an agent and is seeking additional funds beyond what was originally promised after the hot start to the season. Sluka’s father has claimed that is inaccurate in comments made to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
According to Bob Sluka, Matthew’s agents reached an NIL deal with UNLV in February but have never received any payments. There has not been a request for adjustments to the original deal.
“They keep deferring, ‘We don’t know. You have to wait,'” Bob Sluka said per Rittenberg. “Then it was like, ‘We’re going to give him game checks.’ So we’re like, ‘OK, great.’ We did not ask for a single dollar [more].”
"They keep deferring, 'We don't know. You have to wait,'" Bob Sluka told me. "Then it was like, 'We're going to give him game checks.' So we're like, 'OK, great.' We did not ask for a single dollar [more]."
Sluka added that Matt's living expenses weren't even covered. https://t.co/Dsl5EbGW7v
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 25, 2024
ESPN’s Pete Thamel has reported additional details on the situation as relayed by Marcus Cromartie, Sluka’s NIL representation. Cromartie claims Sluka was verbally promised $100,000 by an assistant coach but none of that money has been paid.
The school’s collective eventually offered a contract of $3,000 per month, but that was significantly less than the originally promised money.
Once Sluka enrolled there, there was no effort by the UNLV’s collective to formalize a contract at that amount. Months after Sluka enrolled and Cormartie made multiple efforts with the staff and school to address the issue.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 25, 2024
When that didn’t come, he evaluated his options and decided play elsewhere next year. The redshirt will allow him to play a full spring at a new school and develop with a trainer this fall. He enrolled in July at UNLV after graduating from Holy Cross and missed spring.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 25, 2024
We’ll see if UNLV delivers a public response, but this story feels far from finished at this point in time.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
