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Mark Schlabach
NEW ORLEANS — Head coach Kirby Smart of Georgia declined to acknowledge his son, Andrew, as the initial scout for wide receiver Zachariah Branch.
However, Smart conceded that his then-pre-teen son ensured Branch caught the Bulldogs’ attention when the ex-USC wideout and his sibling, Zion, became available via the transfer portal in December of 2024.
“My son brought him to my notice,” Smart stated. “He certainly wasn’t the first to find him, but he did point him out. He would show me footage and exclaim: ‘Check out this player, Dad. Witness this player’s punt return. Will we acquire him?'”
Zachariah Branch represented Georgia’s premier target in the post-2024 season transfer market, and his presence is a significant factor in the No. 3 Bulldogs reaching the College Football Playoff for the fourth occurrence in five seasons.
Ahead of Thursday’s CFP quarterfinal showdown versus No. 6 Ole Miss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, Branch stands as the SEC leader with 73 receptions, accumulating 744 receiving yards and five scores.
“His passion for football is likely what struck me most,” Smart commented. “It’s not that I believed he lacked it, but often, highly-rated athletes don’t fully embrace our established culture and rigorous work ethic. He has consistently shown steadfast commitment.”
Upon familiarizing themselves with the Branch siblings’ parents, Shéva and Renee, the coaching staff at Georgia started to grasp the unique drive possessed by Zachariah and Zion, a defensive back.
“Their parents are fantastic,” remarked James Coley, Georgia’s receivers coach. “They adhere to traditional values. Failure to perform correctly means push-ups and repeating the task. They possess excellent foundational training. Their home environment is unconventional. It’s not about ‘Why aren’t you getting an opportunity?’ It’s more about ‘Why aren’t you improving?'”
During the mid-1990s, Shéva Branch competed as a fullback for San José State, where he encountered his future spouse. The family relocated from California to Las Vegas when Zachariah and Zion were very young children. Zion precedes Zachariah in age by approximately 17 months.
Shéva Branch transitioned into a role as a strength and conditioning trainer, coaching his sons once they reached an appropriate age. They received their middle school education at home, a measure taken to enhance their physical power and quickness.
“Every day, we would rise at 5 a.m. and head to the gymnasium by 6 a.m. for a training session with my father,” Zachariah recounted. “I typically completed two exercise routines daily: weightlifting in the morning, followed by a break, online schooling, and then track or football practice later in the afternoon.”
The Branch parents also instilled a strong sense of ambition in their offspring. Shéva and Renee Branch designed visual goal planners when their sons were young, and adorned their bedroom walls with chalk-friendly paint, enabling Zachariah and Zion to document their aspirations for each day, week, season, and the future.
Zachariah envisioned grand accomplishments: achieving the top national ranking among high school wide receivers, serving as a three-year collegiate starter, securing a national title, being selected in the first round of the NFL draft, and earning a place alongside his great-uncle, ex-Raiders receiver Cliff Branch, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Initially, Zachariah harbored ambitions of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He recorded speeds of 10.33 seconds for the 100 meters and 4.4 seconds for the 40-yard dash. These speeds positioned him as the second-quickest individual within his broader family circle – Cliff Branch achieved a 10-second 100-meter time at a 1972 NCAA event during his time at Colorado. He passed away in 2019 at 71 years old.
“Spending time with him was enjoyable; he was highly inspiring,” Zachariah shared. “He advised us to remain focused, offering guidance on navigating various situations, much like my father. He would outline specific actions required to achieve our desires. Having secured three Super Bowl victories, he accomplished all that we aspire to.”
By 2019, Zachariah earned the distinction of being the first freshman starter at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. During his final year, ESPN Recruiting recognized him as the nation’s premier wide receiver and Nevada’s leading prospect.
At that point, Zachariah had already pledged to reunite with Zion at USC. He wasted no time in demonstrating his capabilities for the Trojans. During his debut performance, facing his parents’ former institution, Zachariah secured a 25-yard touchdown reception from Caleb Williams and brought back a kickoff for a 96-yard score. He amassed 232 total yards in the Trojans’ commanding 56-28 triumph against the Spartans.
Zachariah registered four scores in his initial three contests for USC, notably a 75-yard punt return during a dominant 56-10 win over Stanford. His dazzling quickness and knack for making big plays led to comparisons with past USC Heisman recipient Reggie Bush.
Nonetheless, by the conclusion of Zachariah’s sophomore year at USC, he concluded that a different environment was necessary to fully develop his abilities. He accumulated 47 receptions for 503 yards and a single touchdown in his second year, building on his 31 freshman catches.
“Honestly, it was a culmination of minor issues,” Zachariah commented. “Their program was excellent. Numerous factors contributed to my choice, but I’m pleased with my current situation. We’re on the cusp of the playoffs, an opportunity I’ve yet to experience in college.”
As soon as the Branch siblings entered the transfer portal, Georgia swiftly moved to host them for visits. Coley, while serving as Jimbo Fisher’s co-offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, had previously recruited Zachariah in high school. Georgia’s defensive backs coach, Donte Williams, had spent four seasons coaching at USC, and player connection coordinator David Hill had prior experience as a high school coach in Las Vegas.
In addition to Georgia, the Branch brothers toured facilities at Arizona State and Miami. They also received strong recruitment overtures from both Alabama and Tennessee.
Despite other teams attempting to warn Zachariah regarding the throwing prowess of Georgia’s incoming quarterback, Gunner Stockton, Branch observed a different quality when watching Stockton compete in the latter half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 win over Texas in the 2024 SEC championship match.
During the overtime period, Texas safety Andrew Mukuba delivered such a forceful blow to Stockton near the end zone that his helmet dislodged. Stockton immediately rebounded to his feet.
“Witnessing that, and his leadership demeanor, particularly stepping into such a critical juncture of the Texas game and then seizing control to secure the victory, instantly made me think, ‘Alright, this individual is a genuine competitor and a proven winner,'” Zachariah stated.
Following the Branch siblings’ commitment to Georgia, Zachariah also made a strong initial impact on Stockton.
“We were practicing receiving drills, or something similar,” Stockton recalled. “I vividly remember watching him after a catch, executing a juke move. My thought was, ‘Good heavens, how will anyone ever bring this player down?'”
Smart highlighted Zachariah’s profound desire to acquire knowledge as his most striking attribute.
“He was practically living at the facility,” Smart remarked. “He’d express, ‘I’d rather not return to my apartment. I prefer staying here. Is there anything I can review? What new skills can I acquire? Could we train once more? Perhaps throw some passes?’ The man has simply been obsessed with football.”
“One often forms expectations about a recruit. I conveyed to him, ‘I had no inkling you possessed such a deep affection for football, coupled with your exceptional work ethic and diligent practice habits.’ And that quality of his truly earns my respect.”
Zachariah requires merely four more receptions to surpass the Bulldogs’ single-season mark of 76, established by Brice Hunter in 1993. His average gain after securing a catch is 8.1 yards.
“During actual games, he’s occasionally evaded defenders in confined areas, but this is a constant occurrence in practice,” stated Georgia’s offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo. “It’s rare for anyone to get an unobstructed tackle on him.”
Pete Golding, the head coach for Ole Miss, characterized Branch as essentially an extension of Georgia’s ground attack.
“He’s frequently involved in jet sweeps, bubble screens, and the screen game overall,” Golding explained. “He exhibits exceptional agility in open areas. They continue to employ him in key passing plays, focusing on isolated matchups. Their objective is often to pit him against a safety or linebacker, contingent on the defensive scheme. They frequently shift his position to engineer these scenarios, and that’s something we must constantly monitor. He’s an extraordinary athlete.”
Zion has established himself as a consistent performer within Georgia’s defensive backfield, recording 22 stops and a single pass deflection.
“Our desire was to compete side-by-side,” Zachariah shared regarding Zion. “That was undeniably a significant factor for us. However, if the situation wasn’t suitable, we wouldn’t have compelled it.”
The return of the Branch siblings to Georgia in 2026 is yet undetermined. Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN’s NFL draft expert, presently rates Zachariah as the 22nd-ranked prospect for the 2026 draft, suggesting he will likely function as a slot receiver professionally and that ‘offensive play-callers will find innovative ways to utilize him, possibly incorporating him in motion for jet sweeps and maintaining defensive uncertainty.'”
Achieving selection as a first-round NFL draft pick would solidify Zachariah’s standing among the elite in the sport and enable him to mark off another ambition from his childhood bedroom’s painted wall.
