Matthew Sluka is one of the fine quarterback athletes for the Holy Cross Crusaders, so much so that he is being recognized as a dual-threat football passer and runner. Analysts at Matthew Sluka 247 Sports, a site rating college prospects from their high school days, have rated him an outstanding athlete. This is partly because of his consistency and strength in rushing from the quarterback position, which makes him paramount in the Holy Cross football program. All these factors, his recruitment background and his prospects in the game make him a fascinating college football figure.
Matthew Sluka’s Recruitment Journey and 247 Rating
Another football standout in high school, Matthew Sluka, was a three-star recruit, according to 247 Sports. A dual-threat quarterback from Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, New York, Sluka broke loose much more in passing and rushing.
High School Stats and Highlights
In his final year, Sluka recorded excellent stats that served as a springboard for his recruitment to college. Below is a summary of his senior season at Kellenberg:
Category | Stats |
---|---|
Total Passing Yards | 2,410 yards |
Passing Touchdowns | 26 TDs |
Rushing Yards | 1,010 yards |
Rushing Touchdowns | 12 TDs |
Completion Rate | 65% |
Such stats made him appear as an all-around threat, an attribute that caught the attention of multiple schools. Although he had scholarship offers from several Division I colleges, Sluka chose to attend the College of Holy Cross.
Matthew Sluka’s Performance at Holy Cross
First Year: Instant Impact
In his first year of 2020, Matthew Sluka impacted Holy Cross immediately. The short season due to the pandemic was enough for him to demonstrate exactly why many recruiting circles considered him so highly. Matt rushed for 300 yards and threw the ball over 500 yards in just a few games to prove his dual-threat ability early on. Holy Cross confided in him to carry the torch at quarterback, and by quickly becoming a dynamic leader of the team, he cemented himself onto his new campus home.
Season | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Touchdowns |
---|---|---|---|
2020 (Freshman) | 520 | 310 | 8 |
Sophomore Year: Breakout Performance
Breakout as a sophomore in 2021 through the Patriot League and Holy Cross became the prominent championship winner by placing him firmly as the starting quarterback of the Crusaders. Improvement in scores was sharply seen by his sophomore year in both passing and rushing categories:
Category | Stats (2021) |
---|---|
Total Passing Yards | 2,214 yards |
Passing Touchdowns | 19 TDs |
Rushing Yards | 865 yards |
Rushing Touchdowns | 14 TDs |
Completion Percentage | 64.7% |
Sluka had a huge role in Holy Cross’s FCS playoff appearance, leading them to the quarterfinals. He had a great combination of summer and fall where defenses couldn’t keep him contained on the field, both by arm and legs. In 2021, Sluka received First-Team All-Patriot League honors and cemented himself as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
Junior Year: Continued Success
By his junior year in 2022, Sluka had cemented himself firmly as one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS. He improved his passing accuracy and continued to develop as a passer while keeping his rushing intact. In the 2022 season, Sluka passed for more than 2,500 yards and rushed for 900 yards as Holy Cross won another conference title.
Category | Stats (2022) |
---|---|
Total Passing Yards | 2,540 yards |
Passing Touchdowns | 22 TDs |
Rushing Yards | 910 yards |
Rushing Touchdowns | 16 TDs |
Completion Percentage | 66% |
But as remarkable as his victory streak was, the accolades he received capped off a great year for David, one in which he was picked as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and began to make the NFL scouts take notice.
Comparison with Other FCS Quarterbacks
One could describe Matthew Sluka’s stats as exceptional, especially compared to most quarterbacks in the FCS. Most cannot change games on the ground like Sluka can. In 2022, Sluka ranked as one of the five top-leading FCS runners for a quarterback. Including his combined total of passing and rushing yards, he is among the highest in the nation, truly a dual threat that can singlehandedly alter the outcome of games.
Player | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Touchdowns |
---|---|---|---|
Matthew Sluka (Holy Cross) | 2,540 | 910 | 38 TDs |
Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State) | 3,400 | 200 | 35 TDs |
Tommy Mellott (Montana State) | 2,100 | 1,150 | 30 TDs |
Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State) | 2,300 | 450 | 29 TDs |
Rushing Prowess
While Sluka is not like some of the other top quarterbacks, such as Shedeur Sanders, whose game tends to rely mostly on his arm, Sluka is a constant threat to break off a long run and keeps defenses guessing on every play; his 910 rushing yards in 2022 were among the highest by quarterbacks in the FCS and placed him in similar company with players such as Montana State’s Tommy Mellott, another dynamic dual-threat quarterback.
Matthew Sluka’s NFL Draft Prospects
By 2024, people are developing a great interest in Matthew Sluka’s future in the NFL. Scouts have taken note of his athleticism, decision-making, and versatility since he can offer a major impact as a dual-threat quarterback. Sluka may not be in the big four of the Power 5 conferences, but his performance in the FCS will show that he could play at the next level.
Strengths
- Athleticism: Both ability to run and pass makes Sluka an impressive choice for any NFL team looking for a mobile quarterback.
- Leadership: Since he is the primary quarterback of Holy Cross, he has been in the position to express excellent leadership as he was responsible for leading his team into multiple conference titles.
- Improvement: During his collegiate career, Sluka repeatedly demonstrated continued improvement in his passing accuracy and decision-making.
Areas for Development
- Competition Level: Competitively, it will be tough for Sluka as his level of competition in the FCS is considered lower than that of the Power 5 conferences. NFL teams will think twice before drafting a quarterback who hasn’t faced strong defenses regularly.
- Arm Strength: Although Sluka has improved accuracy, scouts have questioned his arm strength ability to make deep throws more often. Draft Projection
Draft Projection
For now, though, Matthew Sluka will likely go in late rounds, remain undrafted, and become a free agent. However, his ability to be used in different ways may make him a money player in the NFL for the team that needs a quality backup quarterback or a guy who can fill out offense through a few different positions. Some teams will likely look at him as that guy they can turn into a wide receiver or a running back because of his athleticism.
The Rise of Matthew Sluka: A Deep Dive Into His Career Progression
Matthew Sluka’s football career best represents what hard work, adaptability, and athleticism can make possible. Everything started at high school with Kellenberg Memorial; however, the road that led him to become one of the key players of Holy Cross football was carved out by perpetual growth and overcoming obstacles. His recruitment journey, playing performances, and future in football make him a standout candidate for fans and analysts.
High School Days and Early Football Career
Matt Sluka grew up on Long Island, New York, and attended Kellenberg Memorial High School to play football. A natural competitor and leader with his fists since he was young, Sluka found himself out there very quickly as a dual-threat quarterback who could throw the ball for accuracy and run with an effective finish.
As a senior, his numbers were stellar. Sluka’s passing totals reached 2,410 yards with 26 touchdowns, adding 1,010 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. That established a great inconsistency to hurt defenses through the air and on the ground. He had a 65% completion percentage that showed not only was he a dynamic runner but also an accurate passer, which meant he was a dual-threat necessary to get the attention of several of the Division I programs.
Although some bigger programs were created around Sluka, the Holy Cross saw something special. The coaches in the program described Sluka as a guy with a great work ethic, tremendous football IQ, and calm under pressure—traits that followed him throughout his career.
Also Read More: The Truth About Jack Harlow’s Height
Holy Cross Football Career: Year-by-Year Breakdown
Matthew Sluka comes to Holy Cross as an end story. He is one of those players who have been vitally involved in helping his team toward several Patriot League Championships. His statistics also have been getting progressively better throughout the years in the position, thus making him a better quarterback and an asset to the team.
Freshman Year (2020): Making a Mark
Sluka arrived in Holy Cross in 2020, a season in which many college football teams were scaled back to four games or fewer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the season was certainly truncated, Sluka proved almost immediately that he could be a team leader. Over a four-game abbreviated season, Sluka passed for 520 yards and rushed for 310 yards. He had 8 total touchdowns, with equal totals between passing and rushing.
He indicated his dual threat for this season to college football fans. With Sluka limited to very few plays, he still gave Holy Cross the win over the FCS playoffs and helped capture the Patriot League Championship. His first year was a great stepping stone to progress in a promising career.
Sophomore Year (2021): Breakout Season
This was the first real season in which Sluka was the primary face of the offense for the Holy Cross. The Crusaders relied on his ability to keep defenses guessing in both directions as he tallied 2,214 yards via pass and added 865 yards via rush. He ended with 19 passes into the end zone and 14 rushes into the end zone for a total of 33 touchdowns, which ranked him among the top quarterbacks in the FCS.
Sluka was key to Holy Cross winning its eighth Patriot League championship and making another deep run into the FCS playoffs, coming to rest in the quarterfinals. He made life miserable for opposing defenses, as they could not possess the ball against him through his passing or rushing abilities. He was completing a high percentage of his passes, 64.7 percent, this year, and with 14 rushing touchdowns, he ranked right up there as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks for rushing scores.
He was not done yet, as his performance earned him First-Team All-Patriot League honors, further cementing his status as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Junior Year (2022): Continued Dominance
Building off that sophomore-year momentum, Sluka entered his junior year with plenty of hopes and hype surrounding him and did not disappoint. He threw for 2,540 yards and 22 touchdowns, adding 910 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns to the mix. When considering total offensive production, the statistical line ranked him among the best quarterbacks in the entire FCS.
In addition to individual recognition, Sluka aided Holy Cross in gaining another Patriot League Championship and into the FCS playoffs. Leadership on the field and delivering in clutch moments became a trademark of his game.
Sluka was also named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, an honor that recognized him not only as a passer but as one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the country. The quarter he averaged 910 rushing yards puts him among the top five FCS quarterbacks by rushing yardage, which cements his status as a true dual-threat player.
Comparing Matthew Sluka to Other FCS Quarterbacks
If any is going to be an outlier regarding dual-threat ability, even among FCS top quarterbacks, it has to be Matthew Sluka. Some quarterbacks strictly depend on their arm, with the ability to throw but poorly when thrust into the game to run, so Sluka is almost untouchable.
Player | Team | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Total Touchdowns |
---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew Sluka (Holy Cross) | 2,540 yards (2022) | 910 yards | 38 TDs | |
Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State) | 3,400 yards | 200 yards | 35 TDs | |
Eric Barriere (Eastern Washington) | 4,256 yards | 300 yards | 50 TDs | |
Tommy Mellott (Montana State) | 2,100 yards | 1,150 yards | 30 TDs |
Whereas quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders are natural at piling up passing yards, Sluka’s 910 rushing yards in the 2022 season put him in his category. More often than not, he will begin games with five or six pass attempts, then tack on hundreds more yards rushing and multiple scores.
The Evolution of Matthew Sluka’s Passing Game
Matthew Sluka had done a lot of development in this regard as a passer, focusing on his accuracy and decision-making. In his first year, he averaged only 60% completion percentages; by his third year, he could shoot up the completion percentage to 66%, a significant raise to reflect on how deeply he’s grasped the game and his ability to read the defense.
As he develops into a fuller quarterback, Sluka has honed his mechanics and pays particular emphasis on his pocket footwork. He has become a more accurate passer, especially on intermediate throws.
Key Stats on Sluka’s Passing Improvement
Year | Completion Percentage | Passing Yards | Touchdowns |
---|---|---|---|
2020 (Freshman) | 58% | 520 yards | 5 TDs |
2021 (Sophomore) | 64.7% | 2,214 yards | 19 TDs |
2022 (Junior) | 66% | 2,540 yards | 22 TDs |
Matthew Sluka’s Rushing Ability: A Game-Changer
In this day and age where mobile quarterbacks are a hot commodity, Matthew Sluka’s running has been wreaking havoc on opposing defenses. His speed, vision, and knack for breaking tackles tend to create more extended plays and gain precious yardage on the ground. The style in which Sluka runs is aggressive and most often places him on the ground through a lowered shoulder rather than a slide, which has led to respect from teammates and fans.
Sluka’s run for over 900 yards in back-to-back years places him at the top of the quarterback class. His rushing touchdowns usually also put him at the top of the FCS leaderboard.
FAQs About Matthew Sluka
What is Matthew Sluka’s 247 Sports rating?
Matthew Sluka was a three-star recruit class coming out of high school, according to 247 Sports.
Where did Matthew Sluka play high school football?
Sluka played high school football at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, New York.
What are Matthew Sluka’s key strengths?
Sluka is a dual-threat. He can do both throwing and running, just as any quarterback. He is also widely regarded as one of the better leaders in his league.
What are his NFL prospects?
By 2024, Matthew Sluka looks projected to be either a late-round NFL draft pick or an undrafted free agent. His athleticism and versatility help him immensely as a selling point.
How has Matthew Sluka performed at Holy Cross?
Sluka has had an exceptional career at Holy Cross. During his season at Holy Cross, he took the team to multiple Patriot League Championships and gathered many more accolades, including First-Team All-Patriot League.
What sets Matthew Sluka apart from other quarterbacks?
He is one quarterback with a rushing ability that makes him different from most other quarterbacks. Sluka, for instance, stands among the top FCS rushing quarterbacks who, in most seasons, run for more than 800 yards.
Conclusion
Matthew Sluka’s career depicts a steady upward trajectory throughout, well seen by his success at Holy Cross and by making a difference in games as the dual-threat quarterback. His stats reveal great value to his team, and he’s a leader on and off the field. As he continues to develop, NFL scouts will pay attention to see how he adjusts to the next level. Whether Sluka winds up in the NFL or not, his collegiate career hasn’t been anything less than spectacular, making him one of those players you’ll want to keep an eye on going forward.
Also Read More: Author