Tag: Zion Branch

Zion and Zachariah Branch transfer to Georgia

Georgia and Kirby Smart are Branching out.

After entering the transfer portal a few weeks ago, Zion and Zachariah Branch officially have a new home. On Sunday, the brothers announced their commitment to Georgia. Zion will play defensive back for the Bulldogs, while Zachariah will play wide receiver.

The elder brother, Zion, was one of the top defensive backs in the 2022 recruiting class, and one of Lincoln Riley’s first big recruiting victories at USC. However, he struggled with injuries during his time at USC, having missed his entire first season and significant parts of the past two.

The younger brother, Zachariah, arrived as a five-star wide receiver in the class of 2023. He immediately turned heads when he returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his first game in Cardinal and Gold. As a freshman, he was named first-team All-American as a return specialist.

This past season season, following the departures of wide receivers Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice to the NFL, Branch took on a bigger role in the passing game, catching 47 passes for 503 yards and a touchdown. However, he struggled with drops at times, and his confidence on kick returns by the end of the season was clearly broken.

Following the conclusion of USC’s regular season, both Branch brothers elected to enter the transfer portal. The expectation from the start was that they were a package deal, which indeed proved to be the case.

Both brothers have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Georgia adds transfer commitment from USC safety

Georgia football receives commitment from taletned USC transfer safety Zion Branch and his brother Zachariah Branch

Georgia football finally gained a pair of transfer portal commitments from the USC Trojans transfer duo wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch.

Zion Branch possesses great speed, physicality, and instinct. Despite dealing with injuries over the past two seasons, the Zion Branch brother remains a player that has starter-level talent. At the very least, he brings depth and experience to the UGA secondary.

Over the last two seasons, Branch has logged 357 snaps and missed only three tackles. In 2024, he allowed 10 receptions on 17 targets for 117 yards. He appears to align well with Georgia’s defensive vision, bringing the athleticism to patrol the deep hash while excelling in a downhill role, where he can aggressively attack the football.

As a high school prospect, Branch was highly regarded, ranked No. 61 overall and No. 7 at his position in the 2022 recruiting class. He also earned the distinction of being the top player from Nevada.

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Nation’s No. 4 transfer commits to Georgia

Georgia football lands commitment from elite USC transfer wide receiver Zachariah Branch

Georgia has been active within the transfer portal, but had not received a commitment.

On Sunday, USC Trojan transfer wide receiver Zachariah Branch has committed to the Georgia Bulldogs along with his brother Zion Branch who plays safety.

Zachariah Branch is a potential game-changer for Georgia as he is the No. 4 ranked player and No. 2 receiver in the transfer portal, per 247Sports. The former five-star recruit caught 47 passes for 503 yards and one touchdown this season. Wide receiver has been a desperate need for Georgia this offseason with the lack of production and 38 drops in 2024 (most in the nation).

Branch brings creativity in space and the ability to make defenders miss to the UGA wide receiver room. He can take a 6-yard slant and turn it into a 50-yard touchdown. Branch has a major impact on special teams as a dynamic returner.

He displayed versatility in his freshman season in 2023, Branch hauled in 31 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged nearly 21 yards per punt return. In 2023, Branch found the end zone on a reception (twice), a punt return, a kickoff return, and a rushing play, demonstrating his dynamic playmaking ability.

Branch brings experience to the UGA wide receiver room. He also joins Georgia’s incoming freshman class, which should held the Bulldogs’ passing offense.

USC’s Zion and Zachariah Branch enter transfer portal

USC’s Branch brothers are heading to another team. Roster churn continues for the Trojans.

Another day, another USC loss to the transfer portal. This time, it was a double-whammy. On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that USC’s brother duo of Zion and Zachariah Branch intend to enter the portal. This marks a major blow for the Trojans, as the Branch brothers were two of the team’s most talented young players.

The elder brother Zion was one of the top defensive backs in the 2022 recruiting class, and one of Lincoln Riley’s first big recruiting victories at USC. However, he has struggled with injuries during his time at USC, having missed his entire first season and significant parts of the past two. Still, he is only a redshirt sophomore, and had the potential to be one of USC’s best defensive players if he were able to stay healthy.

The younger brother, Zachariah, arrived as a five-star wide receiver in the class of 2023. He immediately turned heads when he returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his first game in Cardinal and Gold. As a freshman, he was named first-team All-American as a return specialist.

This season, following the departures of wide receivers Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice to the NFL, Branch took on a bigger role, in the passing game, catching 47 passes for 503 yards and a touchdown. However, he struggled with drops at times, and his confidence on kick returns by the end of the season was clearly broken.

Still, Branch was USC’s most explosive player on the offensive side of the ball. His departure is a significant one, as he is not a player that will be easy to replace.

With the loss of Branch, three of USC’s top five receivers are in the transfer portal. With Kyle Ford out of eligibility, the Trojans are set to return just two wideouts next season who caught more than 8 passes in 2024.

Zion and Zachariah Branch sign exclusive Jordan Brand NIL deal

The Branch brothers are making history at USC off the field.

The Jordan Brand has signed USC football brothers Zion and Zachariah Branch to NIL contracts ahead of the 2024 season. This makes them the first college football players to ever sign with the Jordan brand in history.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to report the partnership news on Monday.

Zachariah, a wide receiver, and Zion, a safety, are both entering their sophomore seasons with the Trojans.

Zachariah Branch is a sophomore wide receiver and return specialist. He had 390 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns last season, becoming USC’s first-ever true freshman First Team All-American as a returner.

Zion Branch is a redshirt sophomore safety. He recorded 22 tackles, including for a loss and one forced fumble, in nine games in 2023.

The Branch brothers join Jordan Brand’s football roster that includes Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers, and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Represented by Excel Sports Management, the Branch brothers have previously partnered with brands such as C4 Energy, Gillette and Honey Stinger.

No. 23-ranked USC kicks off the 2024 season on Sunday versus No. 13 LSU in Las Vegas on ABC.

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USC’s Branch brothers launch nonprofit with charity golf fundraiser

Zachariah Branch and Zion Branch give back to the Southern California community.

USC football released a note which should make Trojan fans proud to support the program. Zachariah and Zion Branch are giving back to the community. They have ambitious goals, too, as they launch a nonprofit with a golf fundraiser as part of their philanthropic aims.

“The Branch Out Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by USC football players Zachariah and Zion Branch, will host its inaugural event, the Branch Out Topgolf Classic, on July 14 at Topgolf El Segundo,” the release began. “The Branch Out Foundation is dedicated to leading with a servant heart to support youth initiatives including homelessness, after-school programs, health and wellness and other charitable causes.”

Zion and Zachariah Branch are as excited about this event as they are about the 2024 USC football season. It’s great to see:

“We are thrilled to launch The Branch Out Foundation with our first event, the Branch Out Topgolf Classic,” said Zion Branch, a redshirt sophomore safety for USC. “We look forward to bringing people together for a day of fun and philanthropy.”

“Our parents raised Zion and I to have a heart for giving back to those who are less fortunate than us,” said Zachariah Branch, a 2023 First Team All-American who is a sophomore wide receiver. “We recognize how blessed we are, and how important it is to make a positive impact in our community.”

All donations made at the Topgolf Classic will be used to support a local charity.

If you want to attend on Sunday, July 14, visit Topgolf El Segundo at 400 Pacific Coast Hwy, El Segundo, CA — zip code 90245

Schedule:
2:00 p.m. – Reception and Silent Auction
3:00 p.m. – Branch Out Topgolf Classic
4:30 p.m. – Awards

To purchase an event ticket or request more information, please contact:

● Breland Cook – breland@branchoutfoundation.org
● Troy White – troy@branchoutfoundation.org

On the web: https://www.branchoutfoundation.org/

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USC safety Zion Branch is optimistic about the 2024 season

Good news from Zion Branch.

USC’s secondary took another hit a week ago when safety Zion Branch, the brother of Trojan teammate Zachariah Branch, was knocked out for the season with a knee injury.

Zion saw action on a continuous basis this season and got his first start at Cal on October 28 before his injury. He had 22 tackles on the season, which included a season-high six against Utah.

“I hate it for him … Terrible luck, but he’s so headstrong and so positive and so driven. He’ll come back way stronger from it.” coach Lincoln Riley said.

The redshirt freshman was a top-75 recruit at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas and was rated as the second-best free safety in his class.

Branch told 247Sports he thinks he will be in good shape for 2024.

“I had a procedure on Tuesday. [The doctors] went in there and cleaned it up a little bit, but definitely feeling confident about where I’m at and heading into the spring feeling confident.”

Being able to participate in spring ball is a very positive piece of news for Zion and USC.

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Zion Branch is one small part of a bigger picture for the USC defense

Zion Branch didn’t get to help USC on the field last season. He’ll try to make up for lost time.

USC needs depth. USC needs bodies. USC needs reinforcements. All of these things are true about the Trojans’ defense, including in the secondary. Zion Branch can give the Trojans what they need.

Branch got injured in summer workouts before the 2022 college football season began. He was able to redshirt. It is worth noting that unlike a true freshman, he has been exposed to the program for a year. He knows what the coaches are asking of him and has been able to soak up the culture around the team. This isn’t a crash course; it’s a chance to apply what he learned as an injured observer last season.

“I feel 100,” Branch told 247Sports. “I’m good to go right now, you know. It was a long season, so this whole season, offseason, I was just training to get back and rehabbing. So, now I’m feeling great right now. Good to go.”

“I feel like I can help all around,” Branch said. “You know, last year getting to watch the defense really just helped me see a vision of where I can see myself contributing, but you know, anywhere to coaches need me I feel like I can field those spots.”

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Ohio State recruiting target Zion Branch to reveal decision live on ESPN

The No. 6 safety in the country will pick between Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC.

The Ohio State football team is hoping for good news on early signing day. Zion Branch who is currently the No. 6 safety in the country according to 247Sports composite rankings, will be making his decision live on ESPN Wednesday, December 15. The announcement will happen at 3:15 p.m. EST.

Branch is from Bishop Gorman high school in Las Vegas, which is the same school that brought OSU defensive lineman Haskell Garrett and former quarterback Tate Martell. The coveted safety has narrowed his focus to the Buckeyes, Oklahoma, and USC. Ohio State was seen as the front runner, but the recent addition of Lincoln Riley as the Trojan’s new head coach has seen the tide turning in favor of Southern Cal.

It is also believed that Zion would like to play with younger brother Zachariah who is the No. 2 rated receiver in the 2023 class. This could be a package deal for whatever school lands the elder brother’s commitment.

Ohio State lost out on Xavier Nwankpa, who committed to Iowa last week. However, the Bucks currently have the No. 1 ranked safety in the class after Sonny Styles reclassified and will be joining OSU a year early in 2022.

Adding Branch would help bolster a secondary that has not played up to the level of expectations that fans have become accustomed to in Columbus.

Ohio State football 2022 recruiting commitment tracker

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Talented Las Vegas receiver keeping in touch with Grisham

The Clemson Insider has the latest on this talented Class of 2023 Las Vegas receiver. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV.) four-star Zachariah Branch has been hearing from Clemson and especially wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham, since Sept. 1 “He’s just …

The Clemson Insider has the latest on this talented Class of 2023 Las Vegas receiver.

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV.) four-star Zachariah Branch has been hearing from Clemson and especially wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham, since Sept. 1

“He’s just been checking in a little bit to see how I’m doing,” Branch said. “I’ve just been seeing how their season’s been going and talking to (Grisham) a little bit here and there.”

As TCI previously reported, Branch will be in attendance, along with his older brother, Zion, for Clemson’s Nov. 13 matchup against UConn. Zachariah will be able to tag along for what will be an official visit for his brother and an unofficial visit for his brother.

Zion is a four-star safety in the 2022 class and has Clemson in his top-5 schools. He ranks as the No. 4 safety and No. 50 overall player in the nation for the Class of 2023, per the 247Sports Composite.

“The atmosphere looks like it’s crazy,” Branch said. “I just want to experience and see what it’s like, see what they offer and see how good of a team and program they are.”

Branch hasn’t been able to take a game day visit because Bishop Gorman has been playing its games on Saturdays. In addition to Clemson, Zachariah and Zion will be heading to USC, Ohio State and Alabama for visits.

“It’s definitely taken off since Sept. 1,” Branch said of his current recruitment. “I’ve been getting calls and texts daily from different schools. It’s just great to build relationships with other schools and Clemson as well, throughout this process. 

Branch has the unique perspective of viewing the recruitment process through the lens of his older brother. 

“It especially helps me break down my process as well as his because we’re trying to find a school that can help both of us and just have us both in the same school,” he said. “That’s our goal, to play in college together. We’re both trying to narrow it down to schools that are a perfect fit for me and my brother, as well.”

Branch would like to make his decision either at the beginning of next year or his 18th birthday, which is in March. He’s not going to let his recruitment bleed into his senior season as his brother has. He indicated that he’ll be cutting down his list of schools in the near future, possibly after he takes all his visits.

He ranks as the No. 6 wide receiver, No. 38 prospect nationally and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Nevada for the 2023 class, per 247Sports.

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