Another game, another Zachariah Branch kick return. While Branch will hopefully evolve quickly enough as a receiver that USC will be able to stretch opposing defenses, the Trojans are still getting great value from the freshman because of what he does on kick returns.
If USC can get kick-return touchdowns from Branch on a regular basis, it will increase its margin for error in the biggest games of its season, which are coming up in a month against Notre Dame and Utah. Anything which relieves the burden on Caleb Williams to do everything for this team is a big plus.
Branch was at it again against Stanford, racing to the end zone on a kick return and making it look very easy.
Notably, Miami Dolphin wide receiver Tyreek Hill — in town for the NFL opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday — attended this USC-Stanford game. He briefly talked to Branch afterward.
You can’t get enough Zachariah Branch highlight videos and appreciation tweets. Here they are from the Stanford game, including the simple piece of advice Tyreek Hill gave to Branch: