2024: Branch, a First Team All-American, will look to be an active contributor to the Trojan receiving corps as well as an electric returner on special teams as a sophomore in 2024.

2023: Branch had a stellar debut season as a true freshman in 2023. He is USC's first-ever true freshman First Team All-American, after being named a USA Today First Team All-American as a returner, a PFF First Team All-American as a return specialist and a Sporting News First Team All-American as a punt returner. Branch was also named to the Walter Camp All-American Second Team and the FWAA All-American Second Team as a kick returner. He was the only freshman to earn placement on either of those teams. Additionally, he was named a Sports Illustrated Second Team All-American as a kick returner, a FOX Sports Second Team All-American as a kick returner, an Action Sports Second Team All-American as an all-purpose player, Phil Steele All-American Second Team as a specialist, a CBS Sports Honorable Mention All-American as a wide receiver/punt returner, a Sports Info Solutions All-American Second Teamer as a returner, a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American as a wide receiver, the College Football Network Freshman Specialist of the Year as a punt returner, a College Football Network Freshman All-American, a FWAA Freshman All-American, The Athletic First Team Freshman All-American, an All-Pac-12 First Teamer as a return specialist, an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention as an all-purpose/special teams player, AP All-Pac-12 Second Teamer, and a Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Teamer as a punt returner. Additionally, he won the Jet Award which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding return specialist. During the season, he was also named to The Sporting News and ESPN Midseason All-American Teams. He collected 31 catches for 320 yards (10.3 avg.) with a long of 36 yards and scored 2 TDs. Branch also rushed for 70 yards on 9 carries (7.8 avg.) with a long of 21 yards and scored 1 TD. As USC’s return specialist, he tallied 442 yards on 24 kickoff returns (18.4 avg.) with a long of 96 yards and running one back for a TD. He also recorded 332 yards on 16 punt returns (30.8 avg.) with a long of 75 yards, also running one back for a TD. He saw action in 11 games (all but Colorado and Arizona) while starting 9. He is the first Trojan since Adoree' Jackson in 2016 to have a punt return and kickoff return for a TD, as well as at least one receiving TD in the same season. Jackson had 2 punt returns and 2 kickoff returns for TDs and 1 TD reception during the 2016 season. Since 1971 (when records are available) Branch is one of just 3 USC players to accomplish the feat, joining Jackson and Curtis Conway (1992 – 1 kickoff return TD, 1 punt return TD, 5 rec TDs). Branch finished the season as the 2023 national statistical leader for punt returns (20.8).

In his USC debut, Branch tallied a team-leading 4 receptions for 58 yards with 1 TD, 1 carry for 12 rushing yards and 1 kickoff return for 96 yards which resulted in a TD against San Jose State. He earned placement on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for his performance. He had 1 reception for 22 yards with 1 TD, 2 kickoff returns for 29 yards and 1 punt return for 12 yards versus Nevada. He collected 4 receptions for 30 yards, had 1 carry for 2 yards and 3 punt returns for 80 yards, including 1 punt return for a 75-yard TD against Stanford. He was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week. He had 4 receptions for 68 yards, 1 carry for 17 rushing yards, 3 kickoff returns for 46 yards and 1 tackle on special teams against Arizona State. He notched 2 receptions for 17 yards, 2 carries for 17 rushing yards, 3 kickoff returns for 46 yards and 4 punt returns for 86 yards against Notre Dame. He posted 1 reception for 2 yards, 1 carry for 1 rushing yard, 5 kickoff returns for 93 yards and 3 punt returns for 59 yards against Utah. He recorded 1 reception for 26 yards, 3 kickoff returns for 22 yards and 2 punt return for 6 yards against California. He notched 3 receptions for 16 yards and 3 kickoff returns for 43 yards against Washington. He tallied 4 receptions for 21 yards, 1 carry for 21 rushing yards and 2 kickoff returns for 15 yards versus Oregon. He collected 5 receptions for 51 yards, 1 carry for no gain, and 2 kickoff returns for 52 yards against UCLA. He had 2 receptions for 9 yards, 1 carry for no gain and 1 punt return for 23 yards in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville.

HIGH SCHOOL: Branch tallied 753 yards on 45 receptions with 11 TDs and recorded 5 punt returns for 90 yards (18.0 avg.) as a senior wide receiver at Bishop Gorman (Nev.). He competed in the 2023 Under Armour All-American Game where he was be a team captain. He was also chosen to play in the 2023 Polynesian Bowl. He was named to the 2022 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada First Team after helping the Gaels win the Class 5A state title.

As a junior, he helped Bishop Gorman get to the Nevada 5A state championship and collected 1,094 yards on 48 receptions with 14 TDs. He also rushed for 5 yards on 1 carry and returned 2 punts for TDs. Branch was named the 2021 MaxPreps Nevada Player of the Year and earned placement on the 2021 MaxPreps Junior All-American First Team, the 2021 MaxPreps California All-State First Team and the 2021 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada First Team.

In an abbreviated two-game sophomore season in the spring of 2021, he caught 7 passes for 134 yards with 4 TDs. He played in 9 games as a freshman and caught 18 passes for 391 yards and 4 TDs and rushed for 5 yards on 1 carry. He also tallied 2 kickoff returns for 43 yards (21.5 avg.).

Branch also competed in track and field. He was the Nevada Southern 5A Regional champion in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump as a sophomore in 2021 when he ran a 10.33 100 and a wind-aided 21.01 200. He long jumped a personal-best 24-0 and triple jumped 46-4.25, which was the state’s best leap of the season.

Current Trojans Zion Branch and Garrett Pomerantz also prepped at Bishop Gorman.

PERSONAL: He is majoring in Communication at USC. His brother, Zion, is also a member of the USC football team. His great-uncle, Cliff Branch, is a former Raiders wide receiver who was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in August of 2022. His father, Shéva, played fullback for San Jose State. He and Zion created the Branch Out Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth initiatives including homelessness, after-school programs, health and wellness as well as other charitable causes.

Zachariah Branch