One of the crazier stories of the 2024 college football season has reached its conclusion, as former UNLV Rebels quarterback Matthew Sluka committed to the James Madison Dukes on Tuesday.
Once the posterchild for Name, Image, and Likeness gone wrong, Sluka is now the presumed starter for his former head coach. What’s the ceiling for Sluka and how does it change his narrative?
Matthew Sluka Commits To Bob Chesney, James Madison
In 2023, Matthew Sluka’s play at FCS Holy Cross earned his a scholarship offer to UNLV. Early on, the fit seemed perfect.
Then, Sluka stepped away from the team over alleged unfulfilled NIL promises. The Rebels continued their push toward a team-record 11-win season, but Sluka announced he’d enter the transfer portal as he maintained eligibility.
Now, his journey continues in an unfamiliar place, with a familiar coach.
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Bob Chesney was hired at James Madison after a 44-21 record at Holy Cross, and then he led the Dukes to a 9-4 record in his first season. It took a while, but now Chesney is reunited with his former quarterback.
It’s not exactly unexpected. We predicted James Madison as a top landing spot when Sluka announced his intention to transfer back in September. But now that Sluka is back with Chesney, his ceiling is high — really high.
Sluka threw for nearly 6,000 yards in four years under Chesney, adding an incredible 3,589 yards on the ground. He scored 97 total touchdowns with the Crusaders. Now, the sixth-year senior has one more year with his former coach.
The dual-threat quarterback thrived under Chesney. Now, with his tumultuous UNLV tenure behind him, he could find success again under the coach who recruited and developed him.
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