Former five-star wide receiver and all-purpose wonder Zachariah Branch announced his plans to leave USC and enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, joined by his older brother and former four-star safety Zion Branch.
The Branch brothers’ announcement adds to a growing list of blue-chip recruits lost by USC since Lincoln Riley started in 2022. According to 247Sports, USC has signed 12 top-100 recruits during Riley’s tenure; of the 12 signees, nine have departed to new schools or are currently in the transfer portal.
In his two years at USC, Zachariah Branch recorded 78 receptions, 823 receiving yards and six total touchdowns, two of those coming on special teams. The older Zion recorded 19 total tackles and saw action in each of USC’s 12 games this year. The brothers are a package deal and plan to attend the same school, Pete Thamel reports.
