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NIL amount revealed that led to the departure of UNLV QB Matthew Sluka


NIL amount revealed that led to the departure of UNLV QB Matthew Sluka

UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka didn't get what he was promised, so he left the university. An assistant coach promised Skula over $100,000 to study at UNLV, but he left the university overnight after claiming he didn't keep ZERO verbal promises.

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Sluka's agent, Marcus Cromartie, told ESPN that UNLV did not honor their verbal offer. Bob Skula, Matthew's father, told ESPN that head coach Barry Odom later said in a phone conversation that the offer was not valid because it did not come from him, but from offensive coordinator Brennan Marion.

UNLV released its own statement saying Sluka's original demands had not been met by the university and NIL.

Matthew Sluka
Quarterback Matthew Sluka #3 of the UNLV Rebels charges up the field against the Kansas Jayhawks during the fourth quarter at Childrens Mercy Park on September 13, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka has…


Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

“UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA's pay-for-play rules as well as Nevada state law,” the school's statement said. “UNLV does not engage in such activities nor does it respond to implied threats. UNLV has honored all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka.”

“UNLV has fulfilled its duty of care and will continue to operate its programs within the rules and regulations of the NCAA and the laws of the State of Nevada.”

In addition, Rob Sine, CEO of Blueprint Sports, the operator of the UNLV collective, told CBS Sports that they had not agreed on an amount of $100,000 with Skula.

“We were first introduced to the agent less than a month ago and the agent said he wanted to explore options for his client,” Sine said. “We informed him that he was not registered with the state or the school and that he had to be, so the athlete would have to speak directly with the coaches. There was discussion via email about a recurring payment of $3,000 a month and then the agent said no, we're still discussing, we'll let you know how things go, don't put my athlete in your program yet. And that was it. All of that happened in less than a couple of weeks. We never agreed on $100,000, we were never told that was the amount required. I'm learning a lot about this, as are you.

“The collective is in great shape and has made all the payments they had to make and met all their contractual obligations,” Sine said. “Everything we do is contractual, we don't do anything verbally. We have documentation of every deal we do. There was nothing for this guy. He got $3,000 from us this summer and that was it. We took care of it.”

Skula and UNLV never saw eye to eye, and that's why he left the university when he could. Multiple sources told CBS Sports that Sluka did not receive any money from UNLV.

A Long Island native, Skula attended Holy Cross before joining the Runnin' Rebels and was the No. 32 quarterback in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

UNLV is off to a 3-0 start thanks to Skula. In his three games this season, he has completed 21 of his 48 passes for 318 yards, six touchdowns, one interception and 43.8 percent of his passes.

Hajj-Malik Williams will likely be the starting quarterback for UNLV going forward.

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