USC sophomore Zachariah Branch earns prestigious preseason accolade

Though the 2024 USC football team is not receiving as much national preseason attention as the program is accustomed to in most seasons, one Trojan is being projected to do great things this year. Zachariah Branch has been named to the ESPN preseason All-American team as a kick returner, the only Trojan to make that list.

Last season, Branch was an All-American return man as a true freshman. He averaged 20.8 yards per punt return and 18.4 yards per kickoff return.

What's more, Branch returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown. He became the first Trojan since 2016 to have a punt return TD, a kickoff return TD, and a receiving TD in the same season.

This year, Branch will again be returning kicks for USC. However, the hope is that he will also blossom as a pass catcher.

Last season, he managed to be a decent receiver with 31 catches for 320 yards and two TDs. Those numbers came in 11 games played.

However, USC lost its top two receivers from a season ago meaning some of the young targets on the roster must step up this year. Because Branch was the top-ranked receiver in the nation in the class of 2023, many people are looking to him as a potential breakout star this season. However, Branch seems to be keeping his goals simple for this year.

"Just to be the best player possible for my team," he said this week when asked about his season goals. "Wherever I'm going to be put in that position, I just want to make that play when it's needed.

"You know, I don't want to try to do anything out of the ordinary, just do what I'm coached to do and everything else will fall into line. So nothing spectacular, Just stick to the plan and do something simple and everything will fall out."

Of course, USC head coach Lincoln Riley is known as an offensive guru. Thus, many are expecting him to find creative ways to get the ball in Branch's hands early and often. That could mean that by the end of the year, Branch will be known as more than just a return specialist.