BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is planning to switch from the college, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday. He’s going through a suspension after admitting to premarital intercourse, a violation of the college’s honor code that surfaced throughout his response to a civil lawsuit alleging he raped a girl in 2023.
Retzlaff met with faculty officers Friday and was knowledgeable he doubtless would face a seven-game suspension, sources confirmed to ESPN. He has begun informing employees and teammates of his intention to go away, sources stated.
Retzlaff had been understanding with the group and collaborating in summer season exercises and practices. The group is on break till July 7.
The BYU employees has been ramping up the preparation of the three backup quarterbacks — McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet and Bear Bachmeier — in anticipation that Retzlaff won’t be accessible.
Final month, a girl filed a civil lawsuit that alleged Retzlaff raped, strangled and bit her in November 2023. In a response to that lawsuit filed Friday, a lawyer representing Retzlaff denied these allegations however stated Retzlaff had consensual intercourse with the girl.
The response stated Retzlaff and the girl traded lighthearted textual content messages for months after the encounter and characterised the civil lawsuit as an extortion try based mostly on the concept Retzlaff developed into an NFL prospect roughly a 12 months later.
The lawsuit described the encounter a lot in a different way.
Each the criticism and the response agree that Retzlaff and the girl related by social media, which led to her visiting Retzlaff’s condo to play video video games on or round Nov. 22, 2023. The girl arrived with a good friend, and mates and teammates of Retzlaff additionally have been current.
Later that night, the girl’s good friend left, after which Retzlaff and the girl began watching a film and started to kiss, the lawsuit states. Whereas “Retzlaff started escalating the state of affairs,” the swimsuit says, “Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the state of affairs and tried to sluggish issues down, making an attempt to drag away, and saying ‘wait.’ She didn’t wish to do something sexual with him.”
The lawsuit says the girl informed Retzlaff “no” and “wait, cease,” however he continued to drive himself on her. After she tried to stand up out of the mattress, the lawsuit alleges, in graphic element, that Retzlaff put his arms round her neck and proceeded to rape her.
A couple of days later, the girl visited a hospital, the place a rape package was carried out and photos of her accidents have been taken. The lawsuit says she was related with Provo, Utah, police however didn’t initially share Retzlaff’s title. No prison fees have been filed towards Retzlaff.
After the lawsuit was filed, BYU issued an announcement, saying: “The college takes any allegation very critically, following all processes and pointers mandated by Title IX. Because of federal and college privateness legal guidelines and practices for college students, the college won’t be able to supply further remark.”
Retzlaff will not be the primary high-profile BYU athlete who confronted a prolonged suspension for an honor code violation associated to premarital intercourse. In 2011, basketball participant Brandon Davies was dismissed from the group — which on the time was 27-2 and ranked No. 3 within the nation — and suspended from faculty. He was reinstated that fall. In 1999, operating again Reno Mahe was suspended from faculty and compelled to go away the soccer group. He transferred to a junior school and later reenrolled at BYU.
The Salt Lake Tribune first reported that Retzlaff confronted a seven-game suspension and supposed to switch.
Retzlaff, who has graduated from BYU, is predicted to enter his title within the switch portal within the coming days. He began 13 video games for the Cougars in 2024, his first 12 months because the starter, main the group to an 11-2 document. He handed for two,947 yards with 20 landing passes and 12 interceptions.