Former Southern California standout wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch are transferring to Georgia, the brothers announced on Sunday.
Also a star punt and kick returner, Zachariah Branch was USC’s second-leading receiver in 2024, gaining 503 yards and scoring just one touchdown on 47 receptions. He has 78 catches for 823 yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) over two college campaigns.
He was an All-American in 2023 and won the Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers Award as the country’s top return specialist. He led NCAA FBS in punt return average (20.8 yards) in 2023, also pacing the Pac-12 with 332 punt return yards. He averaged 5.7 yards on 13 returns in 2024.
Zachariah Branch has one career TD on a punt return and one on a kickoff return.
“I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special,” he told ESPN. “They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me.”
Listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he is the No. 4 player and No. 2 wide receiver in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings.
Zion Branch, who like his younger brother has two years of eligibility remaining, is the No. 269 overall player and No. 16 safety in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings.
He finished the season with 19 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups in 12 games. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he has 41 career tackles in 21 games. He ended the 2022 and 2023 seasons early due to injuries.
“I chose the University of Georgia because of its great coaching staff, their pedigree and the history of the program,” Zion Branch told ESPN. “Georgia has consistently been one of the best programs in college football, and the culture of excellence they’ve built is something I want to be a part of. The coaches are not just about winning games; they’re about building character, fostering growth and pushing players to be their absolute best both on and off the field.”
The brothers, who are Las Vegas natives, join former USC assistant Donte Williams, a defensive backs coach at Georgia since December 2023.
