WORCESTER — Holy Cross quarterback Matt Sluka has the luxurious of a variety of decisions to work with throughout the 2023 season.
That’s a welcome assist for the can-do space primary who’s not required to do all of it for the Crusaders’ offense. The 6-3, 216-pound senior from Locust Valley, N.Y., has the gadgets in place to duplicate the high-volume offense from 2022.
Holy Cross went undefeated throughout the frequent season (11-0) for the third time in program historic previous and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Holy Cross is the preseason resolve to repeat as Patriot League champions and ranked No. 6 throughout the FCS Coaches Ballot.
“This yr it’s extra about discovering playmakers and getting them the ball and our offense is stacked,” talked about Sluka, all through the Crusaders’ media day on Thursday morning at Fitton Area.
“With the ability to get anybody the ball in house and permit them to make performs goes to be the important thing to our offense. It’s nearly like there are usually not sufficient performs to get everybody the ball and it has been nice thus far.”
Sluka launched the statistical definition of a twin danger quarterback to a singular place in 13 begins closing season. The Crusaders’ offensive numbers have been off the charts on a workforce that compiled 5,842 yards of full offense, 449.4 per recreation and 37.38 elements per recreation.
Sluka led all FCS quarterbacks in rushing closing season with 1,234 yards and 11 touchdowns. From the pocket, Sluka achieved 153-of-266 passes for 2489 yards and 26 touchdowns with 4 interceptions.
Within the stylish school recreation, quarterbacks are literally measured and rated in phrases in full yards. That’s the reason Sluka is the Patriot League’s Preseason Offensive Participant of the Yr and a favorite to win the Walter Payton Award. However for Sluka to understand these specific individual accolades would require a workforce effort.
“After I was youthful it was extra about me making performs and personally, I all the time wished to go on the market and do the very best I may,” talked about Sluka. “Earlier than it was all about getting the first down, getting the touchdowns, and constantly merely progressing the offense.
“I believe now we simply have so many playmakers I don’t should try to do the whole lot myself and that makes it lot simpler. So now it’s nearly elevating and dealing on my craft and that makes my job a complete lot simpler.”
Sluka’s go-to man on the flank is senior break up end Jalen Coker, a returning All-Patriot League first workforce receiver. Coker led the workforce with 912 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns and reached the tip zone on the very least as quickly as in eight video video games.
Junior intensive receiver Justin Shorter was third on the workforce with 32 catches for 431 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior tight end Sean Morris, a two-time All-Patriot League selection, is Sluka’s massive objective over the middle.
The backfield will be manned by tailback Jordan Fuller, a second workforce All-Patriot League performer with a nostril for the tip zone. The 6-0, 231-pound ball supplier from North Hampton, N.H., rushed for 536 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns. Fuller is a succesful receiver on checkdowns and provides Sluka with a good danger in play movement.
The Crusaders’ offense has been entrusted to first-year offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, whose stage of emphasis in teaching camp has been allowing Sluka make good use of the encircling firepower.
“There are quite a bit (choices) and I gained’t point out all of the names as a result of there are too many and there are some younger guys on the sector stepping up,” talked about Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney.
“Coach Kennedy has actually helped develop him and get him to a degree the place he’s actually assured and the place he understands methods to get the ball out shortly and on time. If the primary learn is just not there, he can progress all through or tuck the ball in and all of us turn out to be spectators.”
Sluka’s abundance of playmakers on the expertise positions is barely half the equation. Holy Cross has the easiest offensive line throughout the Patriot League and presumably all of FCS. The Crusaders have three returning All-Patriot League First Workforce offensive linemen, seniors Luke Newman, Eric Schon and C.J. Hanson.
Holy Cross was ranked throughout the excessive 10 in FCS in scoring offense and rushing offense and Sluka is conscious of it was the beefcakes contained within the trenches that made it happen.
“For them to return in and actually simply perceive the inspiration of our offense and the totally different checks that we have to get to is so necessary,” talked about Sluka. “Having expert guys once more we’ll switch that quite a bit faster.
“It makes the installs that a lot simpler and permits the offense to movement somewhat higher and get higher appears to be like. Not having to work on the inspiration as a lot helps us to be extra targeted on enhancing our craft and never should study it.”