BYU Quarterback Jake Retzlaff accused of sexual assault in latest lawsuit

PROVO, Utah — Jake Retzlaff, the first Jewish quarterback for Brigham Young University (BYU), has been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court in the Salt Lake county.

The lawsuit, filed in Salt Lake County and first reported by ESPN and the Los Angeles Times, alleges that Retzlaff assaulted a woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe A.G., at his Utah residence in November 2023. According to the lawsuit, the alleged incident occurred after the two met via social media and she visited his home with a friend.

The lawsuit claims that after the friend left, Retzlaff escalated unwanted physical contact despite verbal objections from the woman, culminating in sexual assault. The filing includes graphic allegations of rape and strangulation, stating the woman passed out during the encounter. She later sought medical attention, including a rape kit and documentation of her injuries.

Retzlaff’s attorney, Mark Baute — known for previously defending NBA player Derrick Rose in a high-profile sexual assault case — issued a statement Wednesday declaring that Retzlaff is “factually innocent.”

“We look forward to proving that innocence,” Baute said. “Jake’s focus this year will be on football. We don’t try cases in the media; we will respect the process and establish Jake’s innocence through the judicial system.”

The Provo Police Department, in a statement reported by Deseret News, acknowledged receiving a call from a woman matching the lawsuit’s details on November 27, 2023. However, police said she declined to identify her alleged attacker, resulting in the case being closed due to a lack of actionable leads.

The lawsuit contends that Provo police discouraged the woman from pursuing the matter, reportedly telling her that “sexual assault victims never get justice.” Police strongly refuted that claim in their public response, asserting that their investigators and victim advocates “do not send people away.”

BYU, in a statement provided to ESPN and Deseret New s, said it became aware of the civil suit Wednesday. “The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX,” the statement read. Due to student privacy laws, the university declined to offer additional comment.

Legal experts interviewed by Deseret News noted that while the lawsuit is significant, it is a civil complaint and not a criminal charge. Greg Skordas, a former sex crimes prosecutor and longtime Utah attorney, described the suit as “problematic and damaging,” but emphasized that the absence of a criminal case limits the legal exposure for Retzlaff — at least for now.

The lawsuit seeks over $300,000 in damages for claims including assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Retzlaff, who transferred to BYU from Riverside City College, started four games for the Cougars in 2023 and was named team co-captain heading into the 2024 season. According to Deseret News, he graduated in April and remains eligible to compete as a graduate student. As a student at BYU, he is also subject to the university’s Honor Code, which includes strict behavioral expectations.

As of Thursday, Deseret News reported that no criminal charges had been filed, and Retzlaff had not yet been served notice of the lawsuit. Once served, he will have 21 days to respond.

The case has been assigned to 3rd District Court Judge Coral Sanchez. A trial, if pursued, could take more than a year to begin.