The Brigham Young University Cougars football team is off to their best start in years. The Cougars are No. 11 in the newest AP poll and will look to build on that in the weeks following. While their success is tied to the team as a whole, it wouldn’t be possible without their start-studded quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Retzlaff’s path to becoming the starter at BYU was unconventional, to say the least, as before attending the university he played for two Junior colleges. He would get his feet wet last year as the then-starter Kedon Slovis went down with an injury, lighting a path for Retzlaff to start. To start the 2024 season, Retzlaff was in a quarterback battle with UCF transfer Gerry Bohanon, a struggle in which Retzlaff won.
Retzlaff is not just an ordinary football player and student; he stands out further than that. He is one of a few Jewish students who attend BYU. The university prides itself on furthering individuals through the church, with nearly the entire student body following the Morman faith. Retzlaff has not let this defy him on his quest to be a great college player and, he hopes, an NFL quarterback someday. What drew Retzlaff to BYU and the Cougars was the great coaching staff and the team that was built upon his arrival.
This season so far, he has been off to a tear, throwing for 1600 yards and 16 touchdowns. The junior has also done a decent chunk of rushing, accumulating over 100 yards on the ground to go along with three touchdowns using his legs. His passing percentage is also great, throwing at around a 60% clip for the season. He also completed BYU’s biggest win of the season last week, leading his team on a game-winning drive to defeat Oklahoma State for the first time in program history. Currently, the Cougars are a fringe college football playoff team with the new format. If they stay undefeated, they should also have no problem getting in with the new rules. They will play UCF last week, who is a decent opponent and could give the team trouble if they are not sharp, but with the way Retzlaff has been playing, it would be hard to bet against them.
However, this team will only go as far as their quarterback takes them. They have embraced and loved him the whole way even though he is different from everyone else. The increased media attention has also not bothered the team as the junior’s story is starting to spread around the nation. Retzlaff’s story has inspired many, spreading the message that even if you are different, you can still accomplish great things. It’s one of those weird college sports stories where you want to root for the guy and cannot root against him. He truly is inspirational to many. The story and the legend will grow even further if the Jewish quarterback can take the Cougars to the college football playoffs. The legend is only starting, and the tale of Retzlaff will continue.
Hey Jake,! As a BYU fan, I love to see the national recognition for a guy who has really put in the work and come through for us. Retzlaff has spoken regularly about his opportunity to stand out as a Jewish QB. Thanks for taking the time to learn about him and his unique situation!
One point of correction, if you don’t mind: “Mormon Faith” is a misnomer that persists because we use both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The actual name of the church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”. The church has issued a style guide explaining what is perferred, but essentially we want to ensure that the name of Christ is used when referring to the church and our faith. He is after-all the center of our beliefs.
I think this is especially relevant to your article. Retzlaff is attending a very conservative Christian university, as a practicing Jew. There are many many ways in which the two religions agree, and one massive way in which they are diametrically opposed. Jake is a great example for all of us in his courage to stand up for his beliefs, and his grace to do so while befriending and respecting those around him who don’t share those beliefs. That is something that is nearly a lost art in our country. Let’s all celebrate our common ground, and respect (or even learn from?!) our differences.
Here is the church’s style guide page.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/style-guide
“Start-studded” lol