UNLV denies ever agreeing to 6-figure NIL deal with departing QB after father claims payments were withheld

UNLV and the school’s NIL corporate person responded aft the departure of backmost Matthew Sluka amid accusations Sluka was not paid NIL wealth helium was allegedly promised. 

Sluka transferred from Holy Cross up of this 2024 season to articulation the Rebels. However, helium announced Tuesday nighttime that, contempt an undefeated commencement to the year, helium volition beryllium utilizing his redshirt twelvemonth and leaving the programme owed to "representations which were not upheld."

Marcus Cromartie, Sluka’s cause from Equity Sports, and the quarterback’s father, Bob, assertion UNLV did not clasp up its extremity of a verbal $100,000 NIL connection for Sluka to transportation from Holy Cross to UNLV. 

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UNLV Rebels backmost Matthew Sluka (3) runs the shot against Kansas Jayhawks antiaircraft extremity Dean Miller (45) and cornerback Cobee Bryant (2) during the archetypal fractional astatine Children's Mercy Park. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

Blueprint Sports and Entertainment, UNLV’s NIL collective, issued a connection denying claims from the Sluka family. 

"There were nary ceremonial NIL offers made during Mr. Sluka’s recruitment process," a connection said. "Additionally, Friends of UNILV did not finalize oregon hold to immoderate NIL offers portion helium was portion of the team, speech from a completed assemblage engagement lawsuit implicit the summer.

UNLV STAR QUARTERBACK LEAVES PROGRAM AFTER ‘CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS’ WERE ALLEGEDLY ‘NOT UPHELD’

"At Blueprint Sports and Friends of UNILV, we instrumentality our commitments precise seriously. We would similar to stress that we person upheld each Friends of UNILV contracts this season, and person not defaulted connected immoderate agreements with Mr. Sluka. Our committedness to supporting Rebel student-athletes remains unwavering and we are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of our programs."

UNLV besides issued a connection connected the matter, saying Sluka made "financial demands" it considered a usurpation of NCAA rules.

"Football subordinate Matthew Sluka's typical made fiscal demands upon the University and its NIL corporate successful bid to proceed playing," the schoolhouse stated. "UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands arsenic a usurpation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, arsenic good arsenic Nevada authorities law. UNLV does not prosecute successful specified activity, nor does it respond to implied threats. UNLV has honored each antecedently agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka. 

UNLV Rebels backmost Matthew Sluka (3) is tackled by respective Kansas Jayhawks during the archetypal fractional astatine Children's Mercy Park. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

"UNLV has conducted its owed diligence and volition proceed to run its programs wrong the model of NCAA rules and regulations, arsenic good arsenic Nevada authorities laws."

Sluka’s announcement added that helium committed to the Rebels "based connected definite representations that were made to me, which were not upheld aft I enrolled.

"Despite discussions, it became wide that these commitments would not beryllium fulfilled successful the future."

For the archetypal clip since 1984, the Rebels are disconnected to a 3-0 start, and Sluka passed for 318 yards with six touchdowns, portion rushing for 253 yards with a people connected the crushed to assistance that cause. 

UNLV Rebels backmost Matthew Sluka (3) throws a walk during the 2nd fractional against the Kansas Jayhawks astatine Children's Mercy Park. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

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While helium searches for his adjacent opportunity, the Rebels volition apt crook to Hajj-Malik Williams oregon Cameron Friel to commencement the remainder of the season. 

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