USC's Zachariah Branch Nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

LOS ANGELES—Sophomore wide receiver and First Team All-American Zachariah Branch has been named as a nominee for the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Nominees are selected based on their performance on the field, in the classroom and in their community.

Zachariah and his brother Zion (who is a redshirt sophomore safety on the USC football team) created the "Branch Out Foundation" in 2023. The foundation is "dedicated to the support of youth initiatives including homelessness, after-school programs, health and wellness as well as other charitable causes." The foundation focuses on assisting the communities of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where the Branch family is from.

Throughout his short time at USC, Branch has made it a priority to launch himself into various philanthropic activities.

He has worked with Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles organization focused on providing "the necessities of life to offer a bridge to self-sufficiency for people experiencing homelessness through food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, medical care, recovery services, counseling, education, training, workforce development and continued care services." Branch volunteered with the charity feeding the homeless and providing meals.

He has volunteered at the Challengers and Wilmington Boys and Girls Clubs in Los Angeles. Branch also participated in a shoe drive at John W. Mack Elementary School with the goal of providing underprivileged students with the proper shoes to feel comfortable and confident when stepping on campus.

Last year, Branch was named a Walter Camp All-American (the only true freshman on the First or Second Team), and traveled to New Haven, Conn., where he was an ambassador for the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the featured player speaker at the New Haven Boys and Girls Club and two local elementary schools.

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).

Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. This year's 178 nominees champion causes including mental health awareness, youth mentorship, hunger relief, domestic abuse prevention and many more. In addition to being actively involved with a charitable organization or service group, each player must also maintain strong academic standing to be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

The final roster of 23 award recipients announced later in September will bring together:

11 players from the NCAA FBS
11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
1 honorary head coach

All members are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists who look for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.

If selected as a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Branch would be eligible to win the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.

The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, is presented annually to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Danny Wuerffel, the award honors the former NFL quarterback's commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world.

The 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient will be selected by a national voting committee and announced on The Home Depot/ESPN College Football Awards Show in December. Only FBS players elected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team are eligible for the honor, which replaces the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain.

Players Mentioned

Zachariah Branch