Jake Retzlaff, the former BYU quarterback, has verbally committed to Tulane University, where he plans to enroll and compete for the starting quarterback spot on the Green Wave football team. This announcement comes as Tulane looks to fill the void left by Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke after a successful season.
Retzlaff, who is entering his fifth year of college eligibility, previously withdrew from BYU due to a violation of the school’s honor code linked to a civil lawsuit that has since been dropped. Although the lawsuit has been resolved, Retzlaff admitted to engaging in consensual intercourse, which conflicted with BYU’s standards encouraging students to abstain from sexual relations outside of marriage.
At Tulane, Retzlaff will not utilize the NCAA’s transfer portal; instead, he will join as a walk-on. He faces competition from several transfer quarterbacks that Tulane has recently recruited, such as Brendan Sullivan and Donovan Leary, in addition to three freshmen on the roster. Last season, Tulane’s offense showcased a strong performance, and Retzlaff’s experience with a 57.9% completion rate, 368 passing yards, and 20 touchdowns during his last stint at BYU could make him a notable contender for the starting role.
As the Green Wave embarks on a new chapter, bringing in fresh talent like Retzlaff may provide the boost needed to continue their competitive presence in the American Athletic Conference, especially as they build on last year’s 9-4 record and appearance in the conference championship game.
This transition could reflect a positive shift for Retzlaff as he seeks redemption in his football career while contributing to Tulane’s aspirations on the field.