Former Badgers football player, now an agent, at center of UNLV controversy over NIL payment

University of Nevada-Las Vegas starting quarterback Matthew Sluka has elected to redshirt the rest of this season, saying he hasn't received a $100,000 payment promised by an assistant coach when he transferred into the program. Sluka anticipates entering the transfer portal for next season, and the potential flashpoint in Name, Image and Likeness discourse has a Wisconsin connection.

Sluka's agent, former University of Wisconsin football player Marcus Cromartie, told ESPN that UNLV didn't come through on the verbal offer made by offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Sluka's father, Bob, also told ESPN that head coach Barry Odom later said in a conversation with Cromartie that the offer wasn't valid because it didn't come from Odom himself.

UNLV is 3-0 with Sluka at quarterback and ranked No. 23 in the nation, with wins over Houston and Kansas.

"I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled," Sluka wrote on social media. "Despite discussions, it became clear that those 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."

Sluka originally transferred into the program from Holy Cross.

Cromartie has worked for Equity Sports since 2020 and received his master's of business administration from Indiana University, according to his LinkedIn page . The alumnus of Mansfield High School in Texas played cornerback for the Badgers from 2009 through 2012, starting two years and playing in 39 total games. He recorded a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2012, part of a 70-31 win over Nebraska.

Cromartie went undrafted in 2013 but but spent time with several NFL teams, seeing game action in three seasons with San Francisco from 2014 through 2016. He has two ex-NFL cousins in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antonio Cromartie.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Badgers football player, now an agent, at center of UNLV controversy over NIL payment