Odom not talking: UNLV QB secret until game day
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka (3) takes a snap during football practice at the Fertitta Football complex Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 | 3:59 p.m.
Barry Odom knows who his quarterback is. He’s just not telling.
UNLV listed three co-starters on the team’s official Week 1 depth chart today, just five days ahead of the 2024 season opener at Houston (Saturday, 4 p.m., FS1). Senior transfers Matthew Sluka and Hajj-Malik Williams shared the top spot with returning senior Cameron Friel, and Odom offered no hint as to which will lead the offense onto the field Saturday.
Odom has locked that classified information in a vault, only sharing it on a need-to-know basis.
That inner circle does include the quarterbacks themselves. Odom said he has informed them of his plans and that everyone is on board with the approach for Week 1.
“We’ve talked very openly with all three of those guys on what the rotation will look like,” Odom said. “We all know.”
Last year’s starter, Jayden Maiava, transferred to USC after a breakout campaign that earned him Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. Since that defection, UNLV has been conducting an open competition for the starting job, with Williams and Sluka considered the two main contenders.
Sluka brings dual-threat ability and a big arm, while Williams has more experience with the playbook after getting the majority of reps during spring practice.
On the final day of training camp, Sluka worked mostly with the first-team offense, while Williams handled the reserve unit and Friel worked with the scout team.
No matter who wins the job, Odom cautioned against pinning the team’s hopes on the Week 1 starter, pointing to Maiava’s in-season ascension last year following a Doug Brumfield injury.
“Last year at this time, all thought we had the starting quarterback. That lasted about two and a half weeks,” Odom said. “Then the next guy was put into that position. It’s a long season.”
How tight is the cone of silence when it comes to the team’s QB plans? Senior receiver Jacob De Jesus — a team captain and an All-American kick returner — is still in the dark, as is the rest of the receiving corps.
“No, we actually don’t know who’s going to be the starter,” De Jesus said on Monday. “But we’re going to be ready with whoever is back there. I think we have a good chance of winning with all three of them, so we’ll be ready.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.