Joel Klatt believes USC has found a 'mini-Tyreek Hill' in freshman Zachariah Branch

Almost no player who played in Week 0 generated buzz similar to how USC WR Zachariah Branch did. The former five-star and top-five prospect popped off in his college debut with the Trojans and did so in a way that stunned FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt.

Klatt was highly complimentary of Branch during his show on Monday as he recapped the weekend’s action. When it came to USC and Branch, words like “woah” and descriptions like the it-factor came out early in his analysis of the true freshman’s first outing.

“Who was the best player on the field on Saturday night? The true freshman in his first college game,” said Klatt. “Zachariah Branch? Woah.”

“I was talking with a few different guys, all former players. I text with them, we all watch games. All of us said, like, there are players that all you need is one play to watch them live and you’re like, ‘Yep! That’s ‘it,'” Klatt continued. “Whatever ‘it’ is? That’s ‘it’. That’s Zachariah Branch. That guy can absolutely move.”

Branch finished his overall phenomenal performance with four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also added a carry for 12 more yards and four returns on kickoffs and punts for 162 yards and an additional touchdown. That included his lone kickoff return for 96 yards that he took to the house out in Los Angeles.

To Klatt, this is obviously the perfect kind of weapon for this specific coach to use. During Branch’s time out in Hollywood, he is now fascinated by how USC’s staff is going to utilize him in several looks on their offense.

“Mark my words: Lincoln Riley is going to have a field day with Zachariah Branch. This is the perfect type of player for a guy like Lincoln Riley. Lincoln Riley, a few years ago, got in 28 different formations in the first 30 snaps against Texas in the Red River Shootout, right? This is what he does. Jordan Addison in the backfield last year against UCLA on a wheel route. Like, he is going to create so many different issues for defenses with Zachariah Branch. This is going to be so fun to watch.”

Branch was nothing short of electric and, to Klatt, looked unfazed by anything in his first college game. That’s why, heading into the first full week of the season, Klatt can’t wait to catch him play again and see how he can develop on and make an impact for one of the nation’s best teams.

“I have not seen a true freshman like this in a long time. This is like mini-Tyreek Hill on the college football field. This dude is lightning in a bottle,” Klatt stated. “If he doesn’t score every game? I think it’s going to be a total upset because, every time his hands touch the ball, I was immediately holding my breath like, ‘What’s he gonna do?'”

“The cutbacks, the suddenness, the burst. It was sensational. And, by the way, the game is not too big for the guy,” said Klatt. “I know it’s just San Jose State but he’s playing in The Coliseum for the first time, the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the country, and he comes in there, he scores a touchdown, and is just like, ‘Yeah. I’ve known I was going to do this my whole life.'”