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Meet Zevi Eckhaus, the Jewish college football bowl-bound quarterback who prays at the 18-yard line

JL;DR SUMMARY Zevi Eckhaus, the Jewish starting quarterback for the Washington State Cougars, uniquely integrates his Orthodox Jewish faith with his football career by praying at the 18-yard line, a nod to the significance of the number in Judaism. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

KosherOrthodox JudaismShabbatPrayerJewish AthletesTefillinCollege FootballZevi EckhausWashington State CougarsCfl

Places mentioned

Pullman, Washington, United States
"Washington State Cougars quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who was raised Orthodox, is honored as one of the teams seniors before the game against the Oregon State Beavers, Nov. 29, 2025, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington."
Seattle, Washington, United States
"recent interview. On Saturday, Eckhaus led the Cougars offense to a 32-8 win, clinching a berth in a Division I college football bowl game. That game will be the final one at the collegiate level for Eckhaus, a redshirt senior. Id love to play football as long as I possibly can, Eckhaus told The Cholent, a newsletter in Seattle, in a recent interview."
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
"While theres been no buzz around Eckhaus as an NFL prospect, the Canadian Football Leagues Montreal Alouettes have secured his negotiation rights, should he choose to go north of the border."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"Eckhaus was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household, attending the Chabad-affiliated Cheder Menachem Los Angeles through elementary and most of middle school."
Spokane, Washington, United States
"Theres not much of a Jewish community in Pullman, Washington, but Eckhaus said the rabbi from nearby Spokane occasionally comes to town and organizes events."
n/a, Rhode Island, United States
"After spending three years at Bryant University in Rhode Island during which he was named the conferences 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Eckhaus transferred to Washington State in 2024."
n/a, New York, United States
"which they went on to lose 52-35 to the Syracuse Orange. There are few Jewish players in NCAA Division I football."
n/a, Utah, United States
"Retzlaff, the former quarterback at Brigham Young University, affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
n/a, Louisiana, United States
"Retzlaff transferred to Tulane after he drew a suspension for violating the schools famously strict honor code."
n/a, Texas, United States
"and spent three years as a walk-on with the Texas A&M Aggies."

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Retrieved 2025-12-02 05:30:54 UTC
Curated 2025-12-02 08:30:47 UTC