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Branch brothers explain decision to transfer to Georgia

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•01/06/25•

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Zachariah Branch
Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) runs for yards after the catch against the Washington Huskies during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Georgia officially signed its first two commitments of the 2024-25 transfer portal cycle on Monday as the USC duo of Zachariah Branch and his brother Zion Branch inked with the Bulldogs. Both took to ESPN’s Pete Thamel to share why it was UGA was the right fit for them.

“I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special,” Zachariah told Thamel. “They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me.”

“I chose the University of Georgia because of its great coaching staff, their pedigree, and the history of the program,” Zion added. “Georgia has consistently been one of the best programs in college football, and the culture of excellence they’ve built is something I want to be a part of. The coaches are not just about winning games; they’re about building character, fostering growth and pushing players to be their absolute best both on and off the field.”

Putting their words into ones of my own, Georgia checked a lot of boxes for the Branch brothers. The good news is, the Branch brothers also check boxes for the Bulldogs who were in pursuit of help at both of their respective positions. At wide receiver, Zachariah has the ability to enter and play right away given the departures of guys like Dominic Lovett (eligibility), Arian Smith (NFL Draft indication with Senior Bowl invite accepted) and Anthony Evans (transfer portal). Meanwhile at safety, starters Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson are both likely to need replacing. Starks is a projected first round pick and Jackson is out of eligibility after six seasons at Georgia. Justyn Rhett and Jake Pope also enters the transfer portal from the secondary.

In two years at USC, Zachariah caught 78 passes for a total of 823 yards. The former five-star tied for the team-high in receptions this past season with 47 grabs, going for 503 yards and a trip to the end zone. On top of that, he’s been among the nation’s best as a returner taking two kicks (one punt, one kickoff) for touchdowns in 2023. He ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the portal and was the top uncommitted prospect at the time of his decision on Sunday.

As for Zion, a pair of significant injuries limited his impact with the Trojans. In 19 games across three seasons, Zion totaled 41 tackles including three for loss with one sack. He defended three passes and forced a fumble as well. Zion, like his brother, was a coveted player coming out of Bishop Gorman High School as a top-100 prospect in the Class of 2022.

It’s a perfect combination for talent and need, and it all adds up to the potential for something special. That’s also what the brothers see in the program built in Athens, separating Georgia from the rest.

“I see their potential as a contender for the national championship and to defend their SEC title in 2025,” Zachariah said.

“This team is poised to do something truly special — competing for championships and setting a standard of excellence that few can match,” Zion added. “With the talent that’s already there and the elite-level recruits coming in, the future is incredibly bright. I have no doubt Georgia will not only win a lot of games but also continue to lead the nation in innovation and performance on the field.”

Both Branch brothers have two years of eligibility remaining. Zachariah spent two seasons at USC while Zion was with the Trojans for three, redshirting in his first season on campus.

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