Sources: BYU QB Retzlaff faces suspension, plans to switch

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is planning to switch from the college, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday. He’s dealing with 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 probably would face a seven-game suspension, sources confirmed to ESPN. He has begun informing employees and teammates of his intention to go away, sources mentioned.

Retzlaff had been figuring out with the squad and collaborating in summer season exercises and practices. The staff 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 woman 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 mentioned Retzlaff had consensual intercourse with the lady.

The response indicated Retzlaff and the lady traded lighthearted textual content messages for months after the encounter and characterised the civil lawsuit as an extortion try based mostly on the concept that Retzlaff developed into an NFL prospect roughly a yr later.

The lawsuit described the encounter a lot in another way.

Each the grievance and the response agree that Retzlaff and the lady linked by way of social media, which led to her visiting Retzlaff’s house to play video video games on or round Nov. 22, 2023. The lady arrived with a pal, and pals and teammates of Retzlaff additionally had been current.

Later that night, the lady’s pal left, after which Retzlaff and the lady began watching a film and started to kiss, the lawsuit states. Whereas “Retzlaff started escalating the state of affairs,” the go well with says, “Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the state of affairs and tried to sluggish issues down, attempting to tug away, and saying ‘wait.’ She didn’t need to do something sexual with him.”

The lawsuit says the lady informed Retzlaff “no” and “wait, cease,” however he continued to power himself on her. After she tried to rise 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 lady visited a hospital, the place a rape equipment was carried out and footage of her accidents had been taken. The lawsuit says she was linked with Provo, Utah, police however didn’t initially share Retzlaff’s title.

No legal prices have been filed towards Retzlaff.

After the lawsuit was filed, BYU issued an announcement, saying: “The college takes any allegation very severely, following all processes and pointers mandated by Title IX. Resulting from federal and college privateness legal guidelines and practices for college kids, the college will be unable to offer 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 staff — 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 staff. He transferred to a junior faculty 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 yr because the starter, main the staff to an 11-2 document. He handed for two,947 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.