Zachariah Branch didn’t have a huge 2023 season for USC as a wide receiver, but his impact as a kick returner was unmistakable. Branch was named one of College Wire’s top Pac-12 football performers for 2023 as a special teams player.
College Wire’s Ryan Haley has more:
“The only freshman to finish within the conference’s top 10 in all-purpose yards, Branch made an immediate impact in the return game. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his first-ever collegiate game against San Jose State, and he returned a punt for a touchdown in his first-ever conference game against Stanford. He was the only punt returner in the country to average at least 20 yards a return.”
Branch has a full offseason in which to develop his skills as a receiver. USC will need him to become an elite offensive weapon, not just a special teams demon, in 2024. Branch will need to make life easier for USC’s 2024 quarterback, which won’t be Caleb Williams.
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.