Why Steve Young is so high on QB Jake Retzlaff – Deseret News

Steve Young accomplished many amazing things during his football career – including a Super Bowl victory and induction into the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame. But Young has never led a BYU team to a 5-0 start, and as he watches his undefeated, 14th-ranked alma mater prepare to face Arizona, he can barely contain himself.

“He stuck to his swashbuckling mentality, but he limited the mistakes he made. Now he still has them, and I think we're just going to have to love him through some of it, but I think he's grown up and I'm just thrilled with him – and there's a lot more to do.”

— Steve Young on Jake Retzlaff

“I know things can get messy, but it feels like with this defense and the way we've grown offensively and have more confidence in Jake (Retzlaff), I'm ready for anyone.” Young told the Y's Guys podcast. “I honestly feel like – here we go! If someone punches us in the face and we don't have an answer, that's okay. We'll chew the next guy. We're not going anywhere. It’s going to be a lot of fun this season.”

The Cougars (5-0, 2-0) host the Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday (2 p.m., Fox). BYU was ranked 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll and its hot start has stunned the conference.

“If our defense can keep playing like that, everyone will be nervous,” Young said. “I guarantee you, everyone on this schedule is saying, 'Oh my God, can we get three or four touchdowns out of this game and somehow get a win?'”

Retzlaff's revitalization

As Young watches Retzlaff go through his junior season, he sees a lot of his younger, rawer self — and not all of it is good.

“There were a few interceptions where my linemen turned to me and said, 'You did that on purpose!' I had said, 'I didn't do that on purpose,' and they said, 'How could you not do that on purpose?' What were you thinking?'” Young said with a reminiscing laugh. “I'm thinking about it for Jake. There must be times when people ask, 'Did you do that on purpose because it really looked like that?'”

Retzlaff's offseason preparation after his 0-4 debut as a starter in late 2023 sparked his turnaround.

“He has held on to his go-getter mentality, but he has limited the mistakes he makes,” Young said. “Now he still has them, and I think we just have to love him through some of them, but I think he's grown up and I'm just thrilled with him – and there's a lot more to do. “He does incredible things Learning experiences and winning at the same time. That’s the greatest thing in the world – learning and winning. Sign me up.”

In his nine starts at BYU, Retzlaff has scored 19 touchdowns – more than Jaren Hall, Zach Wilson, Tanner Mangum, Riley Nelson, John Beck and Steve Sarkisian. Retzlaff's 13 turnovers are fewer than Sarkisian, Beck and Max Hall had in their first nine starts. Notably, seven of Retzlaff's starts came against Power Four defenses, which is unprecedented in program history.

“I tear up thinking about quarterbacks going through all of this and finding ways to discover the full extent of who they can be because so few guys have that support. So few guys can get on the field and stay there. So few guys have that kind of success,” Young said. “So he’s in a beautiful place right now. Don't get cocky. Have the same vulnerability and humility you started the season with. I don't want a 5-0 Jake Retzlaff to come out and say, 'I'm 5-0 and I'm just going to screw it up!'”

Special Saturday

During Saturday's game, BYU will recognize its seven members of the College Football Hall of Fame as part of this year's 100th anniversary celebration of BYU football. Young and his wife Barbara (an Arizona graduate) will be in attendance as the Cougars recognize him, Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Ty Detmer and the late Gordon Hudson and LaVell Edwards.

Like the others, Young's journey was anything but child's play.

“We all started from scratch and it was a long, arduous road,” Young said. “It's almost like everyone climbs Everest from a different direction and then you meet at the top and you're like, 'Hey, no way!' You managed! How was the trip? Oh, it was brutal, but we did it.'”

Young was inducted in 2005 after totaling 8,817 yards of offense and 74 touchdowns (56 passing, 18 rushing) in just 31 games.

“There's a camaraderie or a spirit that honors the journey and honors so many around us who helped us and so many who were hurt and didn't get to see the full extent of their abilities, so I think that's all of it is summarized in the seven “us,” Young said. “I'm trying to describe something that is deeply meaningful personally as a group and then somehow collectively as we represent so many others. In that respect it is a difficult matter. It has a deep meaning.”

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” on ysguys.com and is the author of the children's book “C is for Cougar”, available at desertbook.com.