Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff led the Tulane Green Wave to the American Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff field in his first season under center in New Orleans. Retzlaff joined the Green Wave via the transfer portal under head coach Jon Sumrall after spending two seasons with the BYU Cougars.
Retzlaff left Provo in July 2025 following a school honor code review. The violation stemmed from his admission of consensual sexual relations outside of marriage, which resulted in a multi-game suspension from BYU.
Jake Retzlaff Returns to Provo for 2026 BYU Pro Day
Last week, Retzlaff returned to Provo to throw during BYU’s Pro Day in front of NFL scouts. Retzlaff did not participate in the broad jump, vertical jump, bench press, or 40-yard dash; instead, he took part in quarterback drills, throwing to former teammates, including Chase Roberts.
While speaking to reporters after Retzlaff threw during the Cougars’ Pro Day, head coach Kalani Sitake explained why the program had allowed the quarterback to return to Provo.
“We’ve always been in contact with [Retzlaff],” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “Even though he wasn’t playing for us, he’s still a part of our family. I mean, once a Cougar, always a cougar. We cheered for him as his team went to the playoffs last year, and I’m just really proud of what he’s been able to accomplish.”
During his first season in Provo in 2023, Retzlaff appeared in four games, taking over the starting role after Kedon Slovis was sidelined by injury. In 2024, Retzlaff started all 13 games for BYU, recording 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while adding 417 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
After Retzlaff’s performance at BYU’s Pro Day, Sitake further broke down the qualities that make Retzlaff a prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I think he’s got a great arm and I think he’ll have a great shot at the next level,” Sitake said. “We have a good history of quarterbacks that are still in the league right now. I think he’ll be just fine in the NFL. It’s just a matter of timing and who he gets to work with.”
In the 2025 season at Tulane, Retzlaff registered 3,168 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added 634 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, setting a school record for the most rushing scores by a quarterback in a single season. He led the Green Wave to an 11-3 record and earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 86.6.
