USC Five-Star Plus+ WR commit Zachariah Branch is ready to help Trojans 'turn things around'

Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Zachariah Branch committed to USC on Dec. 24, 2021. Los Alamitos (Calif.) quarterback Malachi Nelson, a fellow Five-Star Plus+ prospect, chose the Trojans just a few weeks earlier.

The duo is leading USC’s 2023 recruiting class, which ranks No. 13 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 2 in the Pac-12. According to Branch, this group will change the trajectory of Trojans football.

“I definitely do think that this class is gonna be the one to turn things around,” Branch told On3. “We have a lot of great athletes. I feel like this class is the one that seals the deal. If we get a huge class, I feel like we’ll be able to compete against the Georgia‘s, the Ohio State‘s, the Alabama‘s.”

Branch believes in the culture that head coach Lincoln Riley is building. The 5-foot-10, 176-pound wideout is patiently waiting for the day when he finally suits up in the cardinal and gold.

“Everybody who’s been committed so far is really fired up to get out there and continue this legacy that USC is now creating again, to bring it back to how Reggie (Bush) and them were,” said Branch, the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 wide receiver in the 2023 On3 Consensus. “We’re not finished with the ’23 class. We’re still trying to build a few more pieces and hopefully create a national championship team in the next couple of years.”

Branch is ‘extremely proud’ of USC’s success this season

Branch is very familiar with the recent history of USC football. His brother, safety Zion Branch, was recruited by Clay Helton and committed to Riley.

The five-star shared that the Trojans under Helton were still a “top pick” for him. However, he senses a different atmosphere in Los Angeles following the coaching change.

“I think the players are really invested,” Branch said. “I feel it goes hand-in-hand. The coaches are doing a phenomenal job and then the players are taking heed to what the coaches are saying, so I feel like it’s flowing perfectly, better than what it was before because of the chemistry that everybody’s built around the building.”

USC’s path to the national championship will likely get more difficult when it joins the Big Ten in 2024. However, Branch is excited that the Trojans are joining the conference.

According to Branch, playing “better competition” like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State will help him develop. Additionally, he believes taking part in Big Ten games will get him more looks from NFL scouts.

But at the moment, Branch is focused on USC’s 2022 campaign. The Trojans are currently ranked in the top 10 and one of the favorites to win the Pac-12 Championship.

“I definitely did expect this,” Branch said of USC’s success this season. “They have a lot of talent and some great coaches behind them. Everybody at USC, you could just tell it’s a change. I definitely knew it was gonna be a turnaround season and I’m extremely proud of what they’ve been doing so far, holding it down and being one of the top teams in the country in year one under Lincoln Riley.”