Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff dey aim for college football history as he dey prepare for important match on Saturday. E dey hope to add final touch to e comeback story.
Retzlaff bin be star quarterback for Brigham Young University (BYU) till last season. E gain national attention as one of di few Jewish players for di Mormon school. But dis summer, Retzlaff, wey dem know as “BYJew,” say e dey leave di school afta e break dia honor code. E land for Louisiana's Tulane, where dem no even guarantee am starting job.
Now, afta some months, Retzlaff don lead di Green Wave to 10-2 season. E dey lead e team for rushing and don set school record for quarterbacks wit 14 touchdowns. If Tulane win dia game on Friday night against di University of North Texas, dem go secure di American Athletic Conference championship and spot for di College Football Playoff. Dis mean say Retzlaff team go be one of di 12 wey go compete for di national championship.
E also mean say Retzlaff go be di first Jewish quarterback to ever reach di playoff, big achievement for sport wey don see Jewish players from Sid Luckman in di 1940s to Josh Rosen eight decades lata. Even though Retzlaff don get plenty attention dis year, e no be di only Jewish QB for di NCAA gridiron.
Across di country, and away from di media, na Washington State's Zevi Eckhaus dey. For some ways, di two dey different – Eckhaus na Orthodox, Retzlaff na Reform – but both don put dia Jewish identity for front and center.
Retzlaff dey wear Star of David necklace and e score sponsorship deal last year wit Manischewitz. E say di deal involve “celebrating Jewish holidays wit Manischewitz products.”
Who be Jake Retzlaff?
Retzlaff dey e first season as starting quarterback for Tulane. Di 6-foot-1 dual-threat quarterback start e collegiate career for Golden West College for Huntington Beach, California. Later, e transfer to Riverside City College, before e go BYU before di 2023 season.
For 2023, e start di last four games for di Cougars, e throw for 648 yards and three touchdowns. E spend di 2024 season as di starting quarterback for BYU, e throw for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions and record six rushing touchdowns. E lead di Cougars to 11-2 record.
E transfer to Tulane before di 2025 season. Through 12 games, e don complete 209 of 334 passes for 2,717 yards and 14 touchdowns to six interceptions. E also don rush 103 times for 561 yards and 14 touchdowns.
E dey chase history
Jake Retzlaff dey one step away from making history for college football: to be di first Jewish quarterback to lead team to di College Football Playoffs.