Report: Former BYU QB Jake Retzlaff Finds New Team

The rumors about Jake Retzlaff joining WVU were just that. They were rumors with no real validity. In fact, Retzlaff has made his decision.

The former BYU quarterback has committed to walk-on at Tulane, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. In Thamel’s report, he says Tulane has spent more than a week doing a vetting process, including the university’s Title IX office examining the sexual assault case that resulted in Retzlaff withdrawing from BYU.

Retzlaff left BYU weeks ago after facing disciplinary action from the school despite the civil suit being dropped.

Based on the initial report by the Salt Lake Tribune, an anonymous Salt Lake County woman filed a lawsuit accusing Retzlaff of sexually assaulting her in November of 2023. She reported the incident to the police, but Retzlaff has not been charged with a crime to this point.

In her lawsuit, the woman claims the assault occurred in 2023 shortly after they first connected on social media. Also in the report, the woman went to the hospital a few days following the alleged incident. Her lawsuit also claims she did not initially name Retzlaff to police out of fear.

Retzlaff, 21, transferred to BYU in 2023, becoming the Cougars starter last season – the first Jewish starting quarterback in school history. He threw for 2,947 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while leading BYU to an 11-2 record.

BYU is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, requiring students are held to a strict honor code that includes prohibiting premarital and extramarital sex whether or not they are a member of the Mormon church.

As far as the impact on WVU, this solidifies the quarterback completion being between Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson. WV Sports Now continues to believe Marchiol will be named the starter after fall camp.

Find more coverage of the Big 12 at WV Spots Now.

For a related story, Rich Rodriguez offered an update on West Virginia’s quarterback competition at Big 12 Media Days.