(BCSNN) — Jake Retzlaff, the former BYU starting quarterback, has committed to Tulane University as a walk-on, the school. The move comes just six weeks before the start of the 2025 college football season and follows a tumultuous departure from Brigham Young University.

Retzlaff withdrew from BYU on July 11 after facing a seven-game suspension for violating the university’s honor code, which prohibits premarital sex. The suspension stemmed from a civil lawsuit filed in May accusing Retzlaff of sexual assault during a 2023 encounter. The lawsuit was dismissed on June 30, and Retzlaff was never criminally charged. However, his admission of a consensual sexual relationship triggered BYU's honor code violation and ultimately led to his exit from the program.

Tulane conducted a thorough vetting process before accepting Retzlaff, including a review by the university’s Title IX office. Head coach Jon Sumrall, who previously recruited Retzlaff while at Troy, played a key role in facilitating the quarterback’s arrival. Retzlaff will join the Green Wave as a walk-on and is expected to compete for the starting job during fall camp.

The quarterback room at Tulane has undergone significant turnover this offseason. After losing starter Darian Mensah to Duke, the Green Wave added four transfer quarterbacks: Brendan Sullivan (Iowa), Donovan Leary (Illinois), Kadin Semonza (Ball State), and TJ Finley (Western Kentucky), who later left the program following legal issues. Retzlaff enters the competition as the most experienced candidate, having led BYU to an 11-2 record last season while throwing for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Despite his walk-on status, Retzlaff is widely viewed as the frontrunner to start under center. His dual-threat capabilities and leadership were instrumental in BYU’s success in 2024, including a win over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Tulane, which finished 9-5 last season and lost the AAC title game to Army, is banking on Retzlaff to elevate its offense and contend for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.

Retzlaff’s transfer is unconventional. Due to the timing of his departure from BYU, he was unable to enter the NCAA transfer portal and instead withdrew from school entirely. This rare maneuver underscores the urgency of his situation and his desire to play immediately in his final year of eligibility.

For Tulane, the addition of Retzlaff represents both a calculated risk and a potential breakthrough. If he secures the starting role, Retzlaff could be the catalyst for a championship run in the American Conference and possible spot in the College Football Playoff. For Retzlaff, it’s a chance to rewrite his narrative and prove that his talent can transcend controversy.