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Ja'Kobi Lane reacts to Zachariah Branch entering transfer portal, leaving USC

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham12/17/24

AndrewEdGraham

Ja'Kobi Lane (2)
(acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

It’s the season of transfers in college football, including one high-profile USC receiver hopping in the transfer portal on Tuesday. And Zachariah Branch’s decision to leave the Trojans evidently isn’t the most popular one.

That includes fellow Trojan wideout Ja’Kobi Lane, who at a minimum seems perplexed by the decision.

“Gang wtf,” Lane said on social media while sharing a post announcing the news that Branch was entering the portal. Branch’s brother, Zion, a safety at USC in 2024, is also in the transfer portal.

Branch just finished his second collegiate season with the Trojans. Through his underclassmen campaigns in Los Angeles, he posted 78 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 11 carries for 87 yards and another score.

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Then, as a returner on special teams, he returned 29 kickoffs for 547 yards and a score as well as 29 punts for 406 yards and another score.

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Branch’s total touchdown numbers and returning statistics each went down from his freshman year to his sophomore one. His catches and yardage as a receiver improved, though, by tying for the team-high in total receptions and being second on the offense in yardage behind only Makai Lemon.

Branch, a native of Las Vegas, played high school football at Bishop Gorman. He was a Five-Star+ prospect there as the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also rated as the No. 1 wide receiver in his class and the No. 1 player out of Nevada.

The Trojans already have 16 players officially in the portal. Among them are QB Miller Moss (committed to Louisville), their second-leading rusher in Quinten Joyner, and two of their other top-five receivers in Kyron Hudson (committed to Penn State) and Duce Robinson.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.