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Zachariah Branch scores 96-yard kick return TD, earns Reggie Bush comparison

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•08/26/23•

AndrewEdGraham

Zachariah Branch
(Erik McKinney/WeAreSC)

USC freshman wideout Zachariah Branch put on a show on Saturday night, accounting for a receiving touchdown and then a 96-yard kick return score in his collegiate debut. And the marauding kick return score had him earning a lofty, lofty USC comparison.

After Branch outran, outmaneuvered and generally embarrassed the San Jose State kick coverage team down the length of the field, Pac-12 Network color commentator Yogi Roth couldn’t hold back. He compared the true freshman star to former USC legend and 2005 Heisman winner Reggie Bush.

“I mean, look, it’s going to sound like big praise, but we haven’t seen a guy do something like that on special teams since No. 5 was here,” Roth said. “And everyone listening knows who No. 5 was. Zachariah Branch has a big career to see what he can do. But that speed, that vision, that confidence that young, that’s what Reggie was doing as a true freshman.”

And while Branch has a long way to go until he’s on the same plane as Bush, Roth noted that he’s already got the USC fans in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at a fever pitch with his highlight-reel antics.

“Haven’t seen that in a while in the Coli, and the Coli is rocking because of Zachariah Branch,” Roth said.

Branch scored his first touchdown after weaving through traffic on a catch

Branch was not lined up in a position a wide receiver usually would be. He was behind the line on scrimmage and in a more traditional tight end spot. But when there is an opportunity to get Branch in space, Lincoln Riley is going to take advantage.

Quarterback Caleb Williams was able to get the ball to Branch in the flat and the wide receiver did the rest. Making two San Jose State defenders miss, Branch practically ran into the endzone untouched. Just the beginning of what could be an incredible career.

Branch played high school football at Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3’s Charles Power was higher on Zachariah Branch than anyone else in the industry, comparing him to former Alabama and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Saturday’s touchdown against San Jose State showed the yards-after-catch ability both Branch and Waddle possess.