BYU’s Jake Retzlaff Will Start At QB In Replace Of Banged Up Kedon Slovis At WVU
Nov 2, 2023, 9:09 PM | Updated: 9:17 pm
Taking a look at the BYU Football redshirt report as the Cougars head down the final month of the 2023 season. (Mitch Harper, KSL Sports)
(Mitch Harper, KSL Sports)
PROVO, Utah – BYU will turn to backup quarterback Jake Retzlaff this Saturday against West Virginia to replace an injured Kedon Slovis, per reports confirmed by KSL Sports.
Slovis, BYU’s starting signal-caller for the first eight games, is dealing with a shoulder injury, multiple sources tell KSL Sports.
Slovis being sidelined for Saturday’s network television tilt with the Mountaineers was first reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Retzlaff was the number-one Junior College quarterback prospect in the nation for the 2023 recruiting cycle.
BYU’s coaching staff has remained consistent throughout the season to redshirt Retzlaff. The former Riverside Community College prospect is a pass-first quarterback with a knack for improvising.
BYU flew into Morgantown on Thursday night. They arrived after a delayed flight around 8 p.m. (ET). Kedon Slovis was on that flight with the team. BYU’s official social media team shared an image of Slovis boarding the team plane at the Provo airport.
Two years ago, BYU had Jaren Hall available in an “emergency situation” in the Independence Bowl. A similar term could be used for Slovis this weekend against the Mountaineers.
The elevation of Retzlaff at quarterback comes at a time when there were questions about Kedon Slovis’ play in recent weeks. Despite the questioning, head coach Kalani Sitake and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick maintain their belief in Slovis.
BYU’s offensive line has not done Kedon Slovis any favors. The former Pitt and USC quarterback has taken hard hits and always found a way to get back up. Those hard hits began with the Southern Utah game in September, where he took a shot from a T-Bird defender that led to an interception.
Slovis was dinged up late in the Kansas game but in the postgame, he said he was fine. During the loss at TCU, BYU’s trainers took a quick look at Slovis’ shoulder, but he never missed an offensive snap. The hits continued against Texas Tech, where he was nursing the left side of his body while signing autographs for fans after a home victory.
Last week, Texas created havoc on BYU’s offensive front. That led to Kalani Sitake saying, “I think everybody thinks the easy answer is just to get another quarterback in there. How about let’s just protect for him first? You know, give him a chance. When he’s getting hit, that’s not his fault.”
BYU enters the game against West Virginia with a 5-3 record, 2-3 mark in Big 12 play. Like BYU, West Virginia is one win away from securing a postseason bid.
Kickoff is at 5 p.m. (MT) on FOX and KSL NewsRadio. Extended pregame coverage on KSL NewsRadio begins at Noon from Morgantown.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X and Threads: @Mitch_Harper.
