When QB Jake Retzlaff arrived at BYU, he thought being one of three Jewish students among 35,000 would mean keeping to himself. Instead, a nine-game winning streak by the BYU Cougars with Retzlaff under center has put him in the spotlight, leading to a historic transformation both on and off the field.
Even after Saturday’s loss to Kansas, BYU remains in contention for the College Football Playoff with a ranking of 14 in the AP Top 25, marking one of the most memorable seasons in recent program history.
In a state where just 0.2% of residents identify as Jewish, the 21-year-old redshirt junior has transformed his minority status into an opportunity for cultural exchange. His silver Star of David necklace has become a familiar sight on campus, and during the offseason, he’s a regular at Shabbat dinners at the campus rabbi’s house.
“I came here thinking I might not fit in with the culture, so this would be a place where I could just focus on school and football,” Retzlaff tells the Associated Press. “But I found that, in a way, I do fit. People are curious. And when everybody around you is so faith-oriented, it makes you want to explore your faith more.”
Retzlaff’s impact reached a milestone when he led Utah County’s first public Hanukkah menorah lighting at Provo’s historic courthouse last year. He’s also brought Jewish traditions directly to BYU’s athletic community, arranging for a kosher food truck at team weight training sessions and even wrapping tefillin in BYU stadium.
Like all BYU students, Retzlaff’s academic journey includes mandatory coursework in Mormon theology. His unique position has earned him a special nickname among classmates and fans: “The chosen one,” a nod to both his on-field success and the Mormon belief that Jewish people are God’s chosen people.
“It’s a lot of respect, honestly,” Retzlaff says with characteristic humility. “They’re putting me on a pedestal sometimes, and I’m like, ‘Whoa guys, I don’t know about that.’”
