Sluka was initially considered for NCAA Division I Lacrosse but decided to follow his heart.
Key Takeaways
- Matthew Sluka recently decided to redshirt the 2024 season.
- He showed great promise in the sport from a young age.
- While in high school, Sluka also was a lacrosse and basketball star.
Matthew Sluka, the American football quarterback who played for the Holy Cross Crusaders and the UNVL Rebels, has been a topic of conversation among football enthusiasts.
The drama comes from his decision to sit out the rest of the 2024 season due to unmet financial promises made during his recruitment.
His coach, Marcus Cromartie, promised him a payment of $100,000, but he only received $3,000.
Sluka wrote on Instagram,
I have decided to utilize my redshirt year and will not be playing in any additional games this season. I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled. Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program.
As the drama unfolds, many fans of the sport are curious to know more about the young quarterback, especially his background and age.
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Matthew Sluka grew up in Locust Valley, New York.
He started playing football when he attended Kellengerg Memorial High School, in addition to lacrosse and basketball.
While his exact birth date and age are unknown, considering his education and football career, the young footballer is likely in his early to mid-20s.
Sluka showed great promise since his early playing days; as a high school junior, he passed for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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He also rushed for 1,619 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading Kellenberg through an undefeated victory.
The NYSSWA recognized Sluka’s excellent school record and placed him on the Class A first-team all-state quarterback list.
Several NCAA Division I programs recruited him to play lacrosse, but he had dreams of playing professionally, which led him to enroll at Peddie School for a postgraduate year.
Sluka eventually joined Holy Cross and quickly became a star player.
As a junior, he was named first-team All-Patriot League after completing 153 of 266 pass attempts for 2,489 yards with 26 touchdowns, four interceptions, and rushing 203 times for 1,234 yards.
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He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Holy Cross in May 2024.
Currently, he is pursuing a graduate certificate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Before his college football career, Sluka was a two-time state champion in high school.
- Sluka has led the UNLV Rebels to a 3-0 start, making his departure worrying.
- UNLV hosts Fresno State (3-1) on Saturday (Sept. 28, 2024).