BYU QB Jake Retzlaff transferring in wake of honor code violation for sexual assault

[209life]

Update: Lawsuit has been dismissed. Still transferring

A lawsuit accusing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of sexually assaulting a woman in his home has been dismissed.

According to multiple reports, attorneys for Retzlaff and his accuser filed a joint motion Monday in Salt Lake City’s 3rd District Court to dismiss the case “with prejudice and upon the merits of the Plaintiff’s complaint against the Defendant," meaning that the plaintiff cannot refile the lawsuit.

News of the lawsuit's dismissal arrives a day after news broke that Retzlaff reportedly intends to transfer from BYU in the wake of a pending seven-game suspension by the school stemming from the lawsuit. The suspension is reportedly not because of the now-dismissed sexual assault allegation, but because Retzlaff contended in his response to the lawsuit that he engaged in consensual premarital sex.

BYU is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school's honor code instructs students to ”live a chaste and virtuous life" and prohibits them from engaging in premarital sex. It applies to all students whether or not they are Mormon. Retzlaff is not Mormon.

The lawsuit and Retzlaff's response​

In the lawsuit that was filed in May, a Salt Lake County woman referred to as Jane Doe A.G. accused Retzlaff of sexually assaulting her in his home in 2023. The lawsuit stated that she consented to kissing while in Retzlaff's room as the two watched a movie but "did not want to do anything more." Jane Doe A.G accused Retzlaff of forcibly raping her after she repeatedly told him "no" and to "stop."

Per the lawsuit, Retzlaff's accuser reported the alleged sexual assault to police, underwent a rape kit and had pictures of her injuries taken. According to the lawsuit, she did not initially identify Retzlaff to police. Retzlaff does not face criminal charges.

Retzlaff denied that he assaulted his accuser in a legal response filed Friday. In the response filed by his attorney, Retzlaff stated that he had sex with his accuser as part of a “normal evening of consensual sexual interaction.”

The filing stated that Retzlaff and his accuser exchanged text messages for months after the alleged assault and that his accuser intended to "extort money from him" now that he's an NFL prospect. The lawsuit sought damages of at least $300,000.

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) throws against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Honor code violation and transfer​

Two days after his response asserting that he had consensual sex with his accuser, news broke of BYU's plan to suspend Retzlaff for the honor code violation. Regarding the lawsuit, BYU previously issued a statement when it was filed in May.

"The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment."

Retzlaff would not be the first BYU athlete to face a lengthy suspension for an honor code violation. Former running back Jamaal Williams missed the entire 2015 season when he was at BYU before returning to the team for his senior season in 2016. Williams said he told the Green Bay Packers in his pre-draft interview that "I had a girl in my room" when asked about why he missed that season.

In 2011, basketball player Brandon Davies was dismissed from the team for an honor code violation. That team featuring Jimmer Fredette was ranked No. 3 in the nation at the time of Davies' dismissal.

Retzlaff is a graduate student and has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Per ESPN, he was working out with BYU with the intention of playing in the fall prior to news of his pending suspension. He has since informed his teammates and coaching staff of his intent to transfer and plans to put his name in the transfer portal in the coming days, according to the report.

Retzlaff initially transferred to BYU from Riverside City College in 2023. He was BYU's starting quarterback in 2024 after playing a backup role in his first season. He led the Cougars to an 11-2 season in 2024 that concluded with an Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado. Retzlaff completed 57.9% of his passes for 2,947 yards (226.7 yards per game) on 8 yards per attempt with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

 

[Tanko]

Update: Lawsuit has been dismissed. Still transferring

A lawsuit accusing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of sexually assaulting a woman in his home has been dismissed.

According to multiple reports, attorneys for Retzlaff and his accuser filed a joint motion Monday in Salt Lake City’s 3rd District Court to dismiss the case “with prejudice and upon the merits of the Plaintiff’s complaint against the Defendant," meaning that the plaintiff cannot refile the lawsuit.

News of the lawsuit's dismissal arrives a day after news broke that Retzlaff reportedly intends to transfer from BYU in the wake of a pending seven-game suspension by the school stemming from the lawsuit. The suspension is reportedly not because of the now-dismissed sexual assault allegation, but because Retzlaff contended in his response to the lawsuit that he engaged in consensual premarital sex.

BYU is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school's honor code instructs students to ”live a chaste and virtuous life" and prohibits them from engaging in premarital sex. It applies to all students whether or not they are Mormon. Retzlaff is not Mormon.

The lawsuit and Retzlaff's response​

In the lawsuit that was filed in May, a Salt Lake County woman referred to as Jane Doe A.G. accused Retzlaff of sexually assaulting her in his home in 2023. The lawsuit stated that she consented to kissing while in Retzlaff's room as the two watched a movie but "did not want to do anything more." Jane Doe A.G accused Retzlaff of forcibly raping her after she repeatedly told him "no" and to "stop."

Per the lawsuit, Retzlaff's accuser reported the alleged sexual assault to police, underwent a rape kit and had pictures of her injuries taken. According to the lawsuit, she did not initially identify Retzlaff to police. Retzlaff does not face criminal charges.

Retzlaff denied that he assaulted his accuser in a legal response filed Friday. In the response filed by his attorney, Retzlaff stated that he had sex with his accuser as part of a “normal evening of consensual sexual interaction.”

The filing stated that Retzlaff and his accuser exchanged text messages for months after the alleged assault and that his accuser intended to "extort money from him" now that he's an NFL prospect. The lawsuit sought damages of at least $300,000.

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) throws against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Honor code violation and transfer​

Two days after his response asserting that he had consensual sex with his accuser, news broke of BYU's plan to suspend Retzlaff for the honor code violation. Regarding the lawsuit, BYU previously issued a statement when it was filed in May.


Retzlaff would not be the first BYU athlete to face a lengthy suspension for an honor code violation. Former running back Jamaal Williams missed the entire 2015 season when he was at BYU before returning to the team for his senior season in 2016. Williams said he told the Green Bay Packers in his pre-draft interview that "I had a girl in my room" when asked about why he missed that season.

In 2011, basketball player Brandon Davies was dismissed from the team for an honor code violation. That team featuring Jimmer Fredette was ranked No. 3 in the nation at the time of Davies' dismissal.

Retzlaff is a graduate student and has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Per ESPN, he was working out with BYU with the intention of playing in the fall prior to news of his pending suspension. He has since informed his teammates and coaching staff of his intent to transfer and plans to put his name in the transfer portal in the coming days, according to the report.

Retzlaff initially transferred to BYU from Riverside City College in 2023. He was BYU's starting quarterback in 2024 after playing a backup role in his first season. He led the Cougars to an 11-2 season in 2024 that concluded with an Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado. Retzlaff completed 57.9% of his passes for 2,947 yards (226.7 yards per game) on 8 yards per attempt with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Wow. The chick should go to jail for extortion. Seems like it was a plan on her part to make money from this guy.
1. Have sex w/ the guy
2. After sex go to hospital for rape kit test to be used as leverage later.
3. Don’t give the guys name to police so that you can extort money from him.
4. 2 years later the guy is NFL prospect so file civil suit to get money.

This was a setup from the start. The girl should be in prison.

 

[djefferis]

So clearly something happened to gain the dismissal - either she got paid off or they made it clear they would come after her personally if she didn’t agree to dismiss the whole thing.

Now just using a little common sense - the whole story seems a bit “off” - you go to the guys place, hang out with a mixed crowd and stick around after everyone leaves - guy rapes you allegedly. You wait a day and then go into a ER and claim rape - but refuse to give a name. That is actually common and believable.

Where the wheels fall off this story is the text between the 2 that continue for months. A text or 2 the day following - possible. Between shock, not knowing what to do and not wanting to make things worse - it’s very possible. But the more time that elapsed between the visit to an ER and the text continue - the less credible she is. So you felt strongly enough to go into an ER to cry rape - and scared enough to give a name - but also wanted to remain on good terms with your attacker ?!!?

Again - all speculation of course and we will likely never know the whole story here. The whole “continued text exchanges” come from his side only - and their job is to discredit her. Could have been they paid her off courtesy of some booster from a QB needy school - could have been someone found some dirt on this girl and they laid it out nice and clearly - drop it or get humiliated in the press and courts.

Only thing guaranteed here is he won’t be back at BYU. I will play devils advocate here for just a second though - as everyone points out - the girl “knew” something was going to happen and put herself in a bad situation - at the same time what about him ? Again - you’re going to BYU and you know going in what is no big thing elsewhere is a big deal there. You understood when you took that scholarship the no pre-marital sex rule. Same as someone who goes to a service academy - there are much stricter rules that apply to cadets vs students at a state school. Don’t like them - don’t sign up to go there. But when you sign the contract - understand you’re committed unless you and the school agree to end it. Way too many kids getting free passes on this shit these days. You want paid - fine - part of being paid means living like every other adult and meeting your commitments- even if they are inconvenient for what you want.

 

[Tanko]

Only thing guaranteed here is he won’t be back at BYU. I will play devils advocate here for just a second though - as everyone points out - the girl “knew” something was going to happen and put herself in a bad situation - at the same time what about him ? Again - you’re going to BYU and you know going in what is no big thing elsewhere is a big deal there. You understood when you took that scholarship the no pre-marital sex rule. Same as someone who goes to a service academy - there are much stricter rules that apply to cadets vs students at a state school. Don’t like them - don’t sign up to go there. But when you sign the contract - understand you’re committed unless you and the school agree to end it. Way too many kids getting free passes on this shit these days. You want paid - fine - part of being paid means living like every other adult and meeting your commitments- even if they are inconvenient for what you want.

Sorry, DJeff. I don't buy the "commit to the contract part". Sure he knew the policy for this private institution but, no way... no how... does the vast majority of athletes attending BYU adhere to it. I can guarantee you 90% of those student athletes are having sex and as a recruit, you know it's not a policy strictly applied unless it hits the press. Only then does the school step in.

Hell, even back in the early 80s the policy wasn't adhered to. Do you think Jim McMahon followed that policy? Hell no. He was a party animal. This is just the school saving face. They know its a policy that isn't followed.

 

[BMR Genie]

Exactly- you voluntarily go to his place after a night out and start the process of coitus, then- 2 years later- you say to yourself "bad idea"

Is that because you've done this dozens or hundreds of times and no one wants a relationship with you lady!!!!

That 'code' is for women too, in fact- its ment to protect and preserve the Momon women from a life of whoring & spinsterhood. This is another ridiculous case of feminism and liberalism hypocrisy.

Yeah, crazy girl.. she's just wasting the court's time.

 

[BMR Genie]

Update: Lawsuit has been dismissed. Still transferring

A lawsuit accusing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of sexually assaulting a woman in his home has been dismissed.

According to multiple reports, attorneys for Retzlaff and his accuser filed a joint motion Monday in Salt Lake City’s 3rd District Court to dismiss the case “with prejudice and upon the merits of the Plaintiff’s complaint against the Defendant," meaning that the plaintiff cannot refile the lawsuit.

News of the lawsuit's dismissal arrives a day after news broke that Retzlaff reportedly intends to transfer from BYU in the wake of a pending seven-game suspension by the school stemming from the lawsuit. The suspension is reportedly not because of the now-dismissed sexual assault allegation, but because Retzlaff contended in his response to the lawsuit that he engaged in consensual premarital sex.

BYU is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school's honor code instructs students to ”live a chaste and virtuous life" and prohibits them from engaging in premarital sex. It applies to all students whether or not they are Mormon. Retzlaff is not Mormon.

The lawsuit and Retzlaff's response​

In the lawsuit that was filed in May, a Salt Lake County woman referred to as Jane Doe A.G. accused Retzlaff of sexually assaulting her in his home in 2023. The lawsuit stated that she consented to kissing while in Retzlaff's room as the two watched a movie but "did not want to do anything more." Jane Doe A.G accused Retzlaff of forcibly raping her after she repeatedly told him "no" and to "stop."

Per the lawsuit, Retzlaff's accuser reported the alleged sexual assault to police, underwent a rape kit and had pictures of her injuries taken. According to the lawsuit, she did not initially identify Retzlaff to police. Retzlaff does not face criminal charges.

Retzlaff denied that he assaulted his accuser in a legal response filed Friday. In the response filed by his attorney, Retzlaff stated that he had sex with his accuser as part of a “normal evening of consensual sexual interaction.”

The filing stated that Retzlaff and his accuser exchanged text messages for months after the alleged assault and that his accuser intended to "extort money from him" now that he's an NFL prospect. The lawsuit sought damages of at least $300,000.

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) throws against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Honor code violation and transfer​

Two days after his response asserting that he had consensual sex with his accuser, news broke of BYU's plan to suspend Retzlaff for the honor code violation. Regarding the lawsuit, BYU previously issued a statement when it was filed in May.


Retzlaff would not be the first BYU athlete to face a lengthy suspension for an honor code violation. Former running back Jamaal Williams missed the entire 2015 season when he was at BYU before returning to the team for his senior season in 2016. Williams said he told the Green Bay Packers in his pre-draft interview that "I had a girl in my room" when asked about why he missed that season.

In 2011, basketball player Brandon Davies was dismissed from the team for an honor code violation. That team featuring Jimmer Fredette was ranked No. 3 in the nation at the time of Davies' dismissal.

Retzlaff is a graduate student and has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Per ESPN, he was working out with BYU with the intention of playing in the fall prior to news of his pending suspension. He has since informed his teammates and coaching staff of his intent to transfer and plans to put his name in the transfer portal in the coming days, according to the report.

Retzlaff initially transferred to BYU from Riverside City College in 2023. He was BYU's starting quarterback in 2024 after playing a backup role in his first season. He led the Cougars to an 11-2 season in 2024 that concluded with an Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado. Retzlaff completed 57.9% of his passes for 2,947 yards (226.7 yards per game) on 8 yards per attempt with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Wahaha.. that was fast! I love it..

The players' party should counter sue and give the girl a lesson.

 

[JDS]

These Mormons are weird af with the sex shit, and that's coming from a Southern Baptist Christian. You can't control young adults when they leave the nest and go off to college, it's not organic, I believe that's not what God wants. From my POV God wants free will to surface naturally and that enforcement intervenes with that. Humans are gonna sin with premarital sex, but when you make it taboo like that when your a grown fuckin' person lol that's ridiculous.

 

[JDS]

These Mormons lose out on a lot of money & talent with these strict campus rules, so I guess that's commendable, but 'm pretty sure everything is tax free for them so there's that as well lol.

 

[209life]

LDS church has billions tax free like the Vatican does.

 

[djefferis]

Sorry, DJeff. I don't buy the "commit to the contract part". Sure he knew the policy for this private institution but, no way... no how... does the vast majority of athletes attending BYU adhere to it. I can guarantee you 90% of those student athletes are having sex and as a recruit, you know it's not a policy strictly applied unless it hits the press. Only then does the school step in.

I’d agree there’s a percentage who go there who don’t follow all of the churches teachings. Don’t think I would put it as high (or even a majority) - but agree there are those who attend who don’t follow what the institution preaches.

But - does that make it acceptable - to me no it does not. Again - take the strict Mormon faith out of it - say it’s Notre Dame or any other religiously affiliated school - or a service academy. Again - each of these schools has a code of conduct you agree to adhere to - hell even state schools have them. If you think they are bullshit - then fine, go somewhere else. In the end if you agree to a contract and then willingly fail to abide - you’re no different than someone who openly stiffs others. You know you weren’t going to follow through - but you took their money anyway. Then when you got called out for it - instead of owning up and apologizing - he tries to play “victim” here and find another sucker to pay him.

 

[BigJay]

His career could be in jeopardy

If you’d have had any athletic talent @jjgold you could have certainly been a BYU Quarterback with no threat of suspension

 

[BigJay]

Joke religion

How much trim do you think Jim McMahon pulled while he was BYU QB in the late 70s-early 80s???

He’d probably still be serving the suspension if the school officials ever knew the true #

 

[209life]

Jake Retzlaff has transferred to Tulane.

Sources: Ex-BYU QB Retzlaff to transfer to Tulane

QB Jake Retzlaff, who withdrew from BYU following a lawsuit accusing him of rape and a suspension for violating the school's honor code, has verbally committed to transfer to Tulane, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

www.espn.com