BYU football criticized for returning controversial transfer QB on Pro Day

Jake Retzlaff's premature departure from BYU football couldn't have been much more public.

The quarterback, approaching his senior season with the program, faced accusations of sexual misconduct, which tossed the quarterback into the public spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Though he was never charged and the accusations were dropped, the sexual encounter was confirmed, and Retzlaff was suspended for violation of the university's honor code.

Retzlaff opted to make a late transfer instead of serving the 7-game suspension with BYU. The quarterback wound up at Tulane, where he would go on to win the starting job, the American Conference, and compete in the College Football Playoff with the Green Wave.

BYU, meanwhile, discovered a gem with freshman Bear Bachmeier. Despite joining the team late in the spring, Bachmeier was incredible in his first NCAA season. He wore a fullback's number, but he tossed the ball like a quarterback, while operating the LJ Martin-boosted offense. Kalani Sitake's squad posted an incredible 12-2 season, finishing ranked 13th in the nation and capping the campaign as "The People's National Champion" by claiming the Pop-Tarts Bowl over Georgia Tech.

Retzlaff and BYU parted amicably, and enjoyed comparably successful years apart.

Now, with wide receiver Chase Roberts participating in BYU's Pro Day, Retzlaff is back in Provo to throw some passes to his old teammate and put his talents on display for pro evaluators.

And social media has plenty to say about his return to campus.

It's saddening when hate drives people to hit "post", because Retzlaff's inclusion is an indicator of love and respect.

I see this as a huge endorsement of BYU, both as an institution, and as a football program. A very public scandal could be enough to demolish an individual's self-image and reputation, but Retzlaff returning to his previous program to help out his old teammates speaks volumes about the culture that head coach Kalani Sitake has installed at BYU.

A culture of empathy, forgiveness, and self-improvement, BYU football leads with love, and it's incredible to see both sides in such a great standing with one another, uniting as family once again. BYU fans will always look fondly on his junior year in the Big 12.