Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
USC’s Zachariah Branch Named to Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
August 05, 2024 | Football
LOS ANGELES--USC First Team All-American Zachariah Branch has been named to the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, today (Aug. 5). The Walter Camp Player of the Year award, the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade, is presented by David McDermott Lexus of New Haven.
In addition to earning placement on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, Branch was also selected to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. This summer, Branch was also named to the 2024 Athlon Sports Preseason All-American First Team (as a punt returner), Phil Steele Preseason All-American First Team (as a punt returner), Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten First Team (as a kick returner and punt returner), Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team (as a punt returner), Pick Six Previews All-Big Ten Second Team (as a wide receiver), Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team (as a wide receiver) and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Fourth Team (as a kick returner and wide receiver).
Branch, will look to be an active contributor at wide receiver as well as an electric returner on special teams as a sophomore in 2024.
He 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. He also 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).
The 2024 Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November and three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26. The 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 133 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.
In addition to earning placement on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, Branch was also selected to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. This summer, Branch was also named to the 2024 Athlon Sports Preseason All-American First Team (as a punt returner), Phil Steele Preseason All-American First Team (as a punt returner), Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten First Team (as a kick returner and punt returner), Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team (as a punt returner), Pick Six Previews All-Big Ten Second Team (as a wide receiver), Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team (as a wide receiver) and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Fourth Team (as a kick returner and wide receiver).
Branch, will look to be an active contributor at wide receiver as well as an electric returner on special teams as a sophomore in 2024.
He 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. He also 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).
The 2024 Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November and three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26. The 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 133 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.
USC Football defeats Purdue: Lake McRee, Bishop Fitzgerald, Christian Pierce, Waymond Jordan
Saturday, September 13
USC QB Jayden Maiava on Trojans’ Win Over Purdue, Weather Delay, First Road Win of 2025
Saturday, September 13
USC Football vs. Purdue Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 13
Football - USC 33, Purdue 17: Highlights (9/13/25)
Saturday, September 13
