A former five-star burner who set a Georgia single-season receptions record in his only year in Athens before going in the third round.
Zachariah Branch arrived at USC as the nation's top-ranked wide receiver recruit and immediately flashed home-run speed, drawing Reggie Bush comparisons as a true freshman. After two seasons with the Trojans, he transferred to Georgia for 2025, set the school's single-season receptions record, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Path to the league
Branch grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and starred at Bishop Gorman High School, ranking as the nation's No. 6 overall recruit and the top wide receiver in the 2023 class. He enrolled early at USC, and in his college debut against San Jose State piled up 232 all-purpose yards, including a kickoff return touchdown.
Career highlights
Over two seasons at USC, Branch caught 78 passes for 823 yards and three touchdowns while also returning kicks, winning the 2023 Jet Award as the nation's top return specialist and earning first-team All-American honors as a freshman. He entered the transfer portal after the 2024 season and committed to Georgia in January 2025, joining his brother Zion on the Bulldogs roster.
2025 season recap
In his only season at Georgia, Branch set a school record with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns while also handling punt return duties, leading the Bulldogs in every major receiving category and leading the SEC in catches. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 79th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Zachariah Branch
- Atlanta Falcons: Falcons select WR Zachariah Branch with No. 79 pick
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Georgia
- Hometown
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
