Who is Jake Retzlaff? What to know on BYU’s first Jewish starting quarterback

College football has the tendency year after year to deliver surprising storylines — and teams — through the first couple weeks of the season.

And through the first third of the 2024 college football season, one of those has been Jake Retzlaff and BYU.

The redshirt junior quarterback, the first Jewish starting quarterback in program history, has led the Cougars to four straight wins to open the season and a No. 22 spot in the recent US LBM Coaches Poll.

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After picking up his first win over a ranked opponent last week in Kansas State, Retzlaff will have another opportunity this week to lead BYU to a win on the national stage as the Cougars take on Baylor in Week 5.

Here’s more on Retzlaff as the Cougars take on Baylor on Saturday:

Who is Jake Retzlaff?

Retzlaff is in his first season as the starting quarterback at BYU.

The Corona, California native transferred to BYU before the 2023 season from Riverside City College, which competes at the JUCO level of college football. As noted in his BYU profile page, Retzlaff threw for 4,596 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2022 at Riverside City College and posted six games of five or more touchdowns thrown.

Prior to Riverside City College, Retzlaff spent his freshman year at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California. With the Rustlers, Retzlaff led Golden West to an 11-1 record and threw for 3,302 yards and 23 touchdowns. He was listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 2 ranked Juco quarterback in the transfer portal in 2022 by 247Sports.

Retzlaff saw action in four games last season at BYU, where he served as the Cougars backup quarterback to Kedon Slovis.

“There’s no way to describe it other than I’m in the place I’m supposed to be right now,” said Retzlaff when asked on BYU Football with Kalani Sitake in September on his path to BYU. “It was a roller coaster of a ride, as you guys saw. I’m grateful for every part of it though, wouldn’t change any of it.”

In BYU’s Week 4 Big 12 win against No. 25 Kansas State, Retzlaff completed 15 of 21 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Through the first four weeks of the season, Retzlaff ranks fifth in the Big 12 in touchdowns (nine), sixth in passing yards (990) and 11th in completion percentage (62.7%).

Is Jake Retzlaff Mormon? Explaining QB’s Jewish faith

No. Jake Retzlaff is not Mormon, and instead is Jewish.

Last year, when Retzlaff took over for Slovis in Week 9 vs. West Virginia, Retzlaff became the first Jewish starting quarterback in BYU’s program history — one that is part of an institution that was founded and is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Me and my two brothers were really the only two Jewish athletes (in my town) growing up. I love to be able to be a beacon and just to inspire somebody. If it’s one, then it’s enough,” Retzlaff recently said in an interview with CBS Sports. “Everything is so faith-oriented. You would think everyone is doing their own thing, but it’s the opposite. Everyone is so embraceful of every faith on campus.”

Jake Retzlaff stats

Here’s a look at Retzlaff’s stats at BYU:

• 2023: 63 of 125 (50.4%) passing for 648 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions; 51 carries for 116 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns

• 2024: 72 of 115 (62.6%) passing for 990 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions; 28 carries for 103 rushing yards

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Jake Retzlaff? What to know about BYU’s first starting Jewish QB