Zachariah Branch Continues to Earn More National Accolades

LOS ANGELES--USC freshman Zachariah Branch continues to earn more national accolades.

He has been named a USA Today First Team All-American as a returner and a PFF First Team All-American as a return specialist.

Branch is USC's first-ever true freshman First Team All-American. USC now has 176 First Team All-Americans.

Branch was also named to the Walter Camp All-American Second Team and the FWAA All-American Second Team as a kick returner. He is 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, a CBS Sports Honorable Mention All-American as a wide receiver/punt 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, The Athletic First Team Freshman All-American, an All-Pac-12 First Teamer as a return specialist and an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention as an all purpose/special teams player.

Branch, a freshman superstar, recorded 29 receptions for 311 yards and 2 TDs during the 2023 season. He also rushed for 70 yards on 8 carries with 1 TD.

He is also one of the nation's most electric returners. Against Stanford on Sept. 9, he returned a punt for a 75-yard TD in the second quarter. He also had a 96-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. San Jose State on Aug. 26. 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 regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation in punt returns (20.6), No. 2 in the nation in combined kick returns (751) and punt return TDs (1) and No. 6 in the nation in kickoff return TDs (1).

Players Mentioned

Zachariah Branch

Zachariah Branch Continues to Earn More National Accolades

Trojans footer

University Southern California Trojans

Players Mentioned

Zachariah Branch

Zachariah Branch Continues to Earn More National Accolades

Related Videos

Trojans footer