Zachariah Branch
USC Trojans – No. 1
PositionWide receiver
Return specialist
ClassFreshman
Personal information
Born: (2004-03-29) March 29, 2004
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Height1 ft 7.5 in (0.50 m)
Weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career history
College
  • USC (2023–present)
Bowl games
High schoolBishop Gorman (NV)
Career highlights and awards

Zachariah Branch (born March 29, 2004)[1] is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the USC Trojans.

Early life and high school

Branch was born on March 29, 2004, the youngest of two sons to Sheve and Renee Branch.[2] His father is a sports performance coach.[2] Branch and his brother grew up attending USC football games.[2] Branch was raised in Las Vegas and attended Bishop Gorman High School.[3] He was one of the top players in the 2023 college football recruiting class, ranked No. 6 nationally by ESPN and No. 9 by 247Sports. He was the top wide receiver in the class.[4][5]

College career

Branch enrolled at the University of Southern California in early 2023.[6][7] In June 2023, he was recorded on a treadmill sprint at 26 miles per hour, close to Usain Bolt's top speed.[8] Prior to the start of the 2023 season, he was selected by 247Sports as a true freshman preseason All-American.[9] In his college football debut, Branch tallied 232 all-purpose yards, including his first touchdown reception and a 96-yard kickoff return.[10][11] Following his first game, the Los Angeles Times wrote that his "feats had even his opponents in awe",[10] and his speed and ability to change direction drew comparisons to Reggie Bush.[12][13]

College statistics

Season Games Receiving Rushing Kick Returns Punt Returns
GPGSRecYardsAvgTDAttYardsAvgTDRetYardsAvgTDRetYardsAvgTD
USC Trojans
2023 441317813.7233110.30715822.61617128.51
Career[14]441317813.7233110.30715822.61617128.51

References

  1. ↑ Carpenter, Zack (October 22, 2021). "Zachariah Branch, nation's second-ranked receiver in 2023, cuts down list". on3.com. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Uggetti, Paolo (2023-09-19). "With electrifying speed, freshman Zachariah Branch is a USC phenom". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  3. ↑ Sam Gordon (October 29, 2022). "How Bishop Gorman's Zachariah Branch became nation's top receiver". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  4. ↑ "2023 ESPN 300". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2023 Top Football Recruits". 247Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Zachariah Branch makes mistakes but shows huge upside". Yahoo Sports. April 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ Thuc Nhi Nguyen (August 10, 2023). "'He brings it al': How freshman Zachariah Branch is shaking up USC's receiver corps". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ↑ Grayson Weir (June 20, 2023). "USC's No. 1 WR Zachariah Branch Comes Close to Usain Bolt's Top Speed During Ridiculous". Outkick.com.
  9. ↑ Chris Hummer (August 16, 2023). "247Sports' Preseason True Freshman All-American Team for 2023". 247Sports.
  10. 1 2 Thuc Nhi Nguyen (August 26, 2023). "Zachariah Branch shines in his college football debut, sparking USC to blowout win". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ↑ Luca Evans (August 26, 2023). "Freshman Zachariah Branch detonates in USC's win over San Jose State". Los Angeles Daily News.
  12. ↑ "USC football freshman Zachariah Branch mesmerizes, draws Reggie Bush comparisons in opener". 247sports.com. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  13. ↑ Warren, Patrick (2023-08-27). "USC Football: College Football Fans React to Zachariah Branch Debut". Sports Illustrated USC Trojans News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  14. ↑ "Zachariah Branch College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
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