Former UNLV QB, who left over NIL payments, transfers to new school

Former UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka will play for James Madison next season, the Sun Belt team announced Tuesday.

Sluka left the Rebels midseason after leading the team to a 3-0 start. The senior transfer from Holy Cross announced his abrupt exit with a late-night social media post, saying that he would be using his redshirt year and transferring again because of “representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled.”

His agent and father later claimed that Sluka was promised $100,000 in name, image and likeness payments, which UNLV and its third-party NIL collective denied.

In Sluka’s absence, senior Campbell transfer quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams helped the Rebels to a final record of 11-3 and their first bowl win since 2000.

Former UNLV coach Barry Odom often described the quarterback battle during fall camp as a close competition, and Williams said on multiple occasions that initially losing the starting role to Sluka was the most difficult experience of his life.

After being introduced as Purdue’s new coach last month, Odom was asked about Sluka’s controversial departure. He implied that the Rebels having so many options at quarterback led to Sluka’s allegations.

Odom emphasized that UNLV did nothing wrong.

“I feel very, very strongly about how we handled that,” he said. “I wish Matthew great success at his next stop. He’s a wonderful young man. I think he will go somewhere and play really well.”

James Madison coach Bob Chesney was the coach at Holy Cross for Sluka’s entire tenure at the FCS program. Despite the reunion, Sluka could still find himself fighting for the starting role again in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Alonza Barnett III, the Dukes’ starter last season, is set to return after throwing 26 touchdowns and four interceptions during a 9-4 campaign, though he was injured in the regular-season finale.

One minute after announcing Sluka’s arrival on social media, James Madison also announced the signing of transfer quarterback Camden Coleman from Richmond.

Sluka left the Rebels after primarily shining as a runner, with 253 rushing yards and a touchdown on 39 carries. He completed 21 of 48 passes for 318 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.

Next season, the Rebels will have an even deeper quarterback room under new coach Dan Mullen and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis.

They have already recruited Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea and former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji. Returning senior quarterback Cameron Friel, who did not start a game last season but was part of the offseason battle with Sluka and Williams, recently announced his plan to remain at UNLV.

Redshirt freshman Gael Ochoa and walk-on Lucas Lenhoff are also expected back.

Mullen is known for his work with quarterbacks, including Dak Prescott, Tim Tebow and Alex Smith.

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.