BYU Allows Ex-QB to Throw at Pro Day Despite Violating School’s Honor Code

Tulane secured Jake Retzlaff out of the blue last year, when a scandal at BYU forced the quarterback to part ways with the latter school. He saved himself a lot of trouble and got to play in his final year of eligibility. Now, however, BYU seems to have ignored his honor code violations by having him back on campus.

Retzlaff was back on the BYU campus to participate in the program’s Pro Day, scheduled for March 20. It is a surprising development, because Retzlaff left the school after being handed a seven-game suspension for violating the school’s honor code. The QB was accused of sexual assault and battery from a 2023 incident at his apartment in Provo, Utah. The case was later dismissed, but Retzlaff admitted that he had been intimately engaged with the woman while the lawsuit was ongoing.

Being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Cougars are very particular about conduct and enforce an eight-point honor code that students must follow to “live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman.” That’s why BYU punished Jake Retzlaff with that suspension. It would effectively tank his chances in the draft, since it was his senior year. 

Former BYU QB Jake Retzlaff was at BYU Football practice today. He will be participating in BYU‘s annual Pro Day on Friday. pic.twitter.com/iAe7saTPI0

— Jake Hatch (Yawk) (@JacobCHatch) March 18, 2026

The lawsuit complicated what would have been a brilliant career at BYU. In 2024, Retzlaff lit up the field with 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns. In terms of passing yards per passing attempt, Retzlaff ranked fifth out of 16 quarterbacks in the Big 12 with 348 yards. But BYU did not think twice before taking strict action against the quarterback. This happened when the spring portal had already closed, forcing Retzlaff to enroll at Tulane as a walk-on.

The Green Wave has yet to announce a date for Pro Day, and the QB also missed out on an invite to the NFL Combine. With the draft being only a month away, Retzlaff might have sought out BYU for a chance to showcase his skills. Provo will be buzzing with NFL scouts, and it is a bigger stage than Tulane. He has the numbers and the skill, but he only needed an opportunity to pitch himself to the representatives. 

Jake Retzlaff feels a bigger push to prove himself to the NFL scouts

The former BYU and Tulane QB found himself in a tough situation after his final season. He registered a career-high total in passing yards, throwing for 3,168 yards in 2025, and his accuracy increased to 61.9%. Tulane also featured in the playoffs. And yet, no draft expert had hopes of Retzlaff making the draft. He had no invite from the Combine, and there were no projections for him. However, Retzlaff is still looking forward to eventually joining the NFL.

“I was a junior college kid, so my entire career has literally just been proving people wrong over, over, and over again,” he told FOX Sports, after the Hula Bowl. “I’m just kind of getting the opportunity to do that over and over again. Like, I’m going to prove you wrong. Like you didn’t know how good I was? Let me show you how good I actually am. At the same time, nothing is going to discourage me at this point.

“I’m actually excited for this draft process to be over as fast as possible because I just want to get where I need to go and just go do my thing because that’s where I’m best.”

Retzlaff threw two touchdown passes during his segment of the Hula Bowl, one of them to his brother, Reggie. The QB was also named in the All-Hula Bowl Second Team by All Access Florida, for giving the “best overall performance” in the event. Jake Retzlaff clearly has enough talent for him to at least be talked about as an option. He only needs a chance.

The post BYU Allows Ex-QB to Throw at Pro Day Despite Violating School’s Honor Code appeared first on EssentiallySports.