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UNLV backup quarterback turned starter Hajj-Malik Williams dominated in his first game after former starter Matthew Sluka left the program over NIL reasons.
Sluka stunned the college football world when he left the 3-0 Rebels earlier this week, citing unkept NIL promises. But both the university and the school’s NIL collective denied that Sluka was ever made an offer.
A Las Vegas casino stepped up and offered to meet Sluka’s demands, but UNLV and head coach Barry Odom and his program declined the offer.
Instead, they’re moving forward with Williams, who served as the team’s starting quarterback in the spring before Sluka transferred in.
Williams’ teammates expressed supreme confidence in the new QB1, and now we can see why.
Sluka completed just 21 of his 48 passes (43.8 percent) for 318 yards, six touchdowns and an interception in his three games. Although he did add 253 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
But in Williams’ first start, he blew those numbers out of the water. Through three quarters against Fresno State, Williams went 13-of-16 for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries
College football fans took notice, and it didn’t reflect particularly well on Sluka.
“Whoever told Sluka and pops to kick rocks is a good business man. UNLV looks like Bama,” one fan tweeted.
“It would appear that UNLV did not need Matthew Sluka today,” Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports said.
Earlier in the day, ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis also took a shot at the former Rebs signal caller.
https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1840040052346499415
“If you make a dumb mistake in life, if I do, (UNLV QB) Matthew Sluka does, or whoever, sometimes you have to wear that,” he said. “…And going in there and expecting something without writing and then they don’t give it to you, you can’t just bail on the team.”
All told, Saturday proved to be a rough day for Sluka and a fantastic day for Williams and UNLV.